Clearly you've got a pretty wide definition of "political" Jon. Would that kind of thing really be out of place on your annexe to Mudcat?

Though I'm not disagreeing that focusing attention for a bit on the nuts and bolts rather than on discussion about more theoretical issues makes sense sometimes, and this thread is maybe one of those times.

If you felt a bit ignored Ed, I think it's just that the people posting on this thread seem to have been focusing attention on an interesting new present.

I'd see what Jon is doing here as an attempt to light a candle rather than curse the darkness, as the saying goes. Of course, as is the way with candles, it could always blow out, but we'll just have to see. And maybe use it to help it keep alight while people decide how it fits in, and whether it fills a useful role. Which I think it could.