the following query generates the right results, but doesn't order them correctly; in fact, the column i want to order by is returned by the query as all having the same value, which isn't the case when dumping the table's contents. i'm somewhat sure i'm just missing something in the syntax of my query:
select t1.thingid,author,subject,origdate,text,vis,ip from erthings as t1,ersections as t2,erdates as t3,ervis as t4,erips as t5 where t1.thingid=t2.thingid=t3.thingid=t4.thingid=t5.thingid and section="news" order by thingdate desc
select t1.thingid,author,subject,origdate,text,vis,ip from erthings as t1,ersections as t2,erdates as t3,ervis as t4,erips as t5 where t1.thingid=t2.thingid=t3.thingid=t4.thingid=t5.thingid and section="news" order by thingdate desc