DAB> I find them useful, and I always find it exasperating when Micros**t
DAB> plays a determining role in anything....  But this threading problem
DAB> has been brought up a lot in the past and is still causing
DAB> inconvenience, so it seems like something has to be done.

You *know* what has to happen don't you?  Someone has to write the
kickin' newsreader in ruby using a cross-platform GUI (such as FOX),
and then if any ruby-ite complains, just point them to that killer app.

:-)

-joe