Quoting Erik Christiansen (dvalin@???):

> If the '#' and "root@hostname" escape the attention of a person
> entrusted with root privileges, then why not make the root prompt bright red:
>
> root@ratatosk:/home/erik# export PS1="\[\033[1;31m\]\u@\h:\W\$ \[\033[0;0m\]"

It's a very good idea -- or, as Arnt says, set the background colour
(which you can do with X11 resources if launching root shell directly
from the window manager).

-- 
Rick Moen                          "'Decimate' when referring to killing one 
rick@???                in ten.  'Octomate' when referring to the 
McQ!  (4x80)                       cephalopod dating site."  -- @FakeAPStylebook