One thing about this place.....
You gotta pan a lot of sand to find any gold
These threads often take several different directions
True. And that can be good, and it can be bad too. Like any group of, say, a dozen guys sitting around a fire there is going to be more than one conversation going on. And unlike a group of a dozen sitting around a fire there's going to be some pretty serous disagreement going on. That's just how forums have evolved...and especially where free speech is embraced.
Hope you find the nuggets you seek, Ted. And have a good trip!