RE: How to use the archives to find the first post in a thread.

>The largest problem I have with searching
>the Archives is trying to follow a thread.
-snip-
>I would love to have the ability to pick an
>appropriate post and then have an option to
>see the whole thread.  See DejaNews for a sample.

Deja News does a good job of this.  One can follow the thread with a bit of
work.  For an example, hit the Midrange-L archive and search for "HP
barcode".  Let's try to follow the thread that the fourth message belongs to
"Re: Printing Bar-Code on HP Laserjet".  Take the link.  We're somewhere in
the middle of the thread.  Click "Thread Index" at the top.  Be patient, and
the entire month of posts will appear in thread order, positioned to the
thread that this message belongs to.  At this point, find the first item,
click and use the "thread next" link to navigate.  Give it a whirl and see
if it doesn't come close to Deja News.
  --buck