>> BTW: Do you know the syntax to
(a) call a certain thread directly?
(b) call a posting directly with the MID? <<

Mozilla mail/newsreader client makes doing either a non issue... so, I
am not sure your context with respect to "syntax"

searching, however, is far better under google... I bookmark the url and
use google groups only for searching this and other nntp groups, not
reading nor responding.

Beverly Howard