Just to take a different side of things, it may be that we are going at this the wrong way. I like the adventure, and trust the author to take me along for the ride. Dissecting *everything* is like taking a grand aged bottle of wine, and after the first half-glass doing a chemical analysis on the rest of the bottle knowing that you'll be able to buy another one next year. Personally, I'd rather drink the wine. Sure we don't always know what is going on, but since the author (sorry about the third person here, Steven) thinks it needs to be that way, then I think it is best that way. With enough analysis, we can figure out clues; but, in reading, I believe this is analogous to driving with your foot on the brake. I prefer to be on the rollercoaster, with no brakes, enjoying the swoops and loops, and letting engineers and the Lords of Judgement take care of gravity. Not that I don't enjoy a Good Mario guess every now and then. $.02, exact change only. pant...pant...pant .... breathe, just breathe.... Warlord "Great Cycle. Uh huh. Is that like a big circle thingie; spins, then flushes sideways?" -Colonial Jack O'Neal