On 12 Sep 07, at 22:22, JamieV. wrote: > The current situation is much more to do with control of all > transaction between otherwise free peoples and control as much of > their daily intercourse as possible, end of subject. (or is it? > Who is benefiting from these controls?. Not you and me) My guess is marketing wonks. Once the gummint tracks all our doings, comings, goings, and periods of stasis, the info will be released to corporate marketers. "In the interests of the economy" is a likely justification. I don't think the usual tired excuse "to protect the children" will quite work in this case, but the depths to which marketers will descend are, of course, unlimited, so we may yet once again be afflicted with it. To veer back on subject: bulbs in flower chez moi: Cyclamen hederifolium, C. intaminatum; Acis autumnalis; Colchicum bornmuelleri, C. corsicum, C. byzantinum, C. b. album, and other Colchicums; Lycoris sprengeri; Amaryllis belladonna; various Crinums of uncertain identity. The crocosmias are down to just a few scattered flowers. No sign yet of operanthous crocuses. -- Rodger Whitlock Victoria, British Columbia, Canada "Outside of dogs, books are man's best friend; inside dogs, it's too dark to read." -----Groucho Marx