diff --git a/fp-includes/core/core.bplustree.class.php b/fp-includes/core/core.bplustree.class.php
index f62421a..1c67643 100755
--- a/fp-includes/core/core.bplustree.class.php
+++ b/fp-includes/core/core.bplustree.class.php
@@ -978,13 +978,19 @@ class BPlusTree_Node {
 	 * @returns int|false corresponding integer or false if key is missing
 	 *
 	 */
-	function getvalue($key) {
+	function getvalue(&$key, $loose=false) {
 
 		#d(implode(",",$this->keys));
-		$place = array_search($key, $this->keys);
-		if ($place!==false) {
+		#$place = array_search($key, $this->keys);
+		$place = BPT_bisect($this->keys, $key, 0);
+		if (@$this->keys[$place-1] == $key) {
 			return $this->indices[$place];
 		} else {
+			if ($loose) {
+				if ($place>1) $place--;
+				$key = $this->keys[$place];
+				return $this->indices[$place];
+			}
 			trigger_error("key '$key' not found", E_USER_WARNING);
 			return false;
 		}
@@ -1522,12 +1528,17 @@ class BPlusTree {
 	/**
 	 * returns an iterator for the tree
 	 * @param string $keylower key lower limit of the iterator
-	 * @param bool	 $includelower if true $keylower is included in the iterator
+	 * @param bool|int	$includelower if true $keylower is included in the iterator;
+	 * 			if $includelower > 1 then 'loose' search is assumed:
+	 * 			the tree will be walked starting from
+	 * 			the key $k in the tree such as $k <= $keylower
+	 * 			and such as there are NO other keys $k' 
+	 * 			such as $k < $k' <= $keylower
 	 * @param string $keyupper key upper bound of the iterator
 	 * @param bool   $includeupper if true $keyupper is included in the iterator
 	 */
 	function walker(
-		$keylower	=null,
+		&$keylower	=null,
 		$includelower	=null,
 		$keyupper	=null,
 		$includeupper	=null
@@ -1694,14 +1705,16 @@ class BPlusTree {
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * @param string $key key to find
+	 * @param string &$key key to find.
+	 * @param bool $loose if true searches the tree for the "nearest" key to $key; 
+	 * 		
 	 * @returns int associated value
 	 * 
 	 */
-	function getitem($key) {
+	function getitem(&$key, $loose=false) {
 		if (is_null($this->root))
 			trigger_error("not open!", E_USER_ERROR);
-		return $this->find($key, $this->root);
+		return $this->find($key, $this->root, $loose);
 	}
 	
 	/**
@@ -1712,7 +1725,7 @@ class BPlusTree {
 	 * @returns int|bool value at the leaf node containing key or false if key is missing
 	 *
 	 */
-	function find($key, &$node) {
+	function find(&$key, &$node, $loose=false) {
 		
 		while (($node->flag & BPT_FLAG_INTERIOR) == BPT_FLAG_INTERIOR) {
 
@@ -1736,7 +1749,7 @@ class BPlusTree {
 			$node =& $node->getnode($nodekey);
 		}
 
-		return $node->getvalue($key);
+		return $node->getvalue($key, $loose);
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -1744,7 +1757,7 @@ class BPlusTree {
 	 * @returns bool false if key does not exists, true otherwise
 	 */
 	function has_key($key) {
-		if ($this->getitem($key)!==false) {
+		if (@$this->getitem($key)!==false) {
 			return true;
 		} else {
 			return false;
@@ -2331,7 +2344,7 @@ class BPlusWalker {
 
 	function BPlusWalker(
 			&$tree, 
-			$keylower=null, 
+			&$keylower=null, 
 			$includelower=null, 
 			$keyupper=null, 
 			$includeupper=null){
@@ -2371,6 +2384,7 @@ class BPlusWalker {
 		$this->node_index = null;
 		$this->valid = 0;
 		$this->first();
+		$keylower = $this->keylower;
 	}
 
 	function first() {
@@ -2395,7 +2409,11 @@ class BPlusWalker {
 		if (!$this->valid) {
 			$place = BPT_bisect($keys, $keylower, 0, $validkeys);
 			if ($place < $validkeys) {
-				$index = $this->node_index = $place;
+				if ($place > 0)
+					$index = $place - 1;
+				else	$index = $place;
+					
+				$this->node_index = $index;
 				$testk = $keys[$index];
 				/*
 				if ($testk>$keylower ||
@@ -2406,7 +2424,11 @@ class BPlusWalker {
 				}
 				*/
 				$this->valid = BPT_keycmp($testk,$keylower)<0||#$testk>$keylower ||
-					($this->includelower && $testk==$keylower);
+					($this->includelower && ($this->includelower>1 || $testk==$keylower) );
+
+
+				$this->keylower = $testk;
+
 			} else {
 				$next =& $node->nextneighbour();
 				if (!is_null($next)) {
@@ -2482,10 +2504,10 @@ class caching_BPT extends BPlusTree {
 
 	var $cache = array();
 
-	function getitem($key) {
+	function getitem(&$key, $loose=false) {
 		if (isset($cache[$key]))
 			return $cache[$key];
-		else	return ($cache[$key] = parent::getitem($key));
+		else	return ($cache[$key] = parent::getitem($key, $loose));
 	}
 
 	function resetcache() {
@@ -2529,9 +2551,9 @@ class SBPlusTree extends BPlusTree {
 		return $seek;
 	}
 
-	function getitem($key) {
-		$seek = parent::getitem($key);
-		return $this->getstring($seek);
+	function getitem(&$key, $loose=false) {
+		$seek = parent::getitem($key, $loose);
+		return $seek!==false? $this->getstring($seek) : false;
 	}
 
 	function setitem($key, $val) {
@@ -2541,7 +2563,7 @@ class SBPlusTree extends BPlusTree {
 	}
 
 	function walker(
-		$keylower	=null,
+		&$keylower	=null,
 		$includelower	=null,
 		$keyupper	=null,
 		$includeupper	=null
@@ -2564,10 +2586,10 @@ class caching_SBPT extends SBPlusTree {
 
 	var $cache = array();
 
-	function getitem($key) {
+	function getitem(&$key, $loose=false) {
 		if (isset($cache[$key]))
 			return $cache[$key];
-		else	return ($cache[$key] = parent::getitem($key));
+		else	return ($cache[$key] = parent::getitem($key, $loose));
 	}
 
 	function resetcache() {
diff --git a/fp-includes/core/core.entry.php b/fp-includes/core/core.entry.php
index bc05b0f..4a4b34e 100755
--- a/fp-includes/core/core.entry.php
+++ b/fp-includes/core/core.entry.php
@@ -386,6 +386,19 @@
 		return date('ymdHis', $time);
 	}
 
+	function entry_keytotime($key) {
+		$arr[ 'y' ] = substr($key, 0, 2);
+		$arr[ 'm' ] = substr($key, 2, 2);
+		$arr[ 'd' ] = substr($key, 4, 2);
+			
+		$arr[ 'H' ] = substr($key, 6, 2);
+		$arr[ 'M' ] = substr($key, 8, 2);
+		$arr[ 'S' ] = substr($key, 10, 2);
+
+		return 	mktime($arr['H'], $arr['M'], $arr['S'],
+				$arr['m'], $arr['d'], $arr['y']);
+	}
+
 	function entry_idtotime($id) {
 		$date = date_from_id($id);
 		return $date['time'];
@@ -408,7 +421,7 @@
 	
 	function entry_exists($id) {
 		$f = entry_dir($id).EXT;
-		return $f;file_exists($f)? $f : false;
+		return file_exists($f)? $f : false;
 	}
 	
 	function entry_dir($id) {
diff --git a/fp-includes/core/core.fpdb.class.php b/fp-includes/core/core.fpdb.class.php
index 871c69a..9525b5a 100644
--- a/fp-includes/core/core.fpdb.class.php
+++ b/fp-includes/core/core.fpdb.class.php
@@ -45,7 +45,10 @@
 			
 				if (entry_exists($params['id'])) {
 					$this->id = $params['id'];
-					
+				} else {
+					// let it fail
+					$this->count = 0;
+					return;
 				}
 				
 			}
@@ -78,7 +81,7 @@
 				
 			}
 			
-			if (isset($params['random'])) {
+			if (isset($params['random']) && !$this->id) {
 				$this->random = intval($params['random']);
 				$this->count = $this->random;
 			}
@@ -148,7 +151,7 @@
 			$this->params =& new FPDB_QueryParams($params);
 			$this->ID = $ID;
 			
-			if ($this->params->id) {
+			if ($this->params->id || $this->params->random) {
 				$this->single = true;
 			}
 			
@@ -174,13 +177,13 @@
 				return;
 			}
 			
-			if ($this->single) {
+			if ($this->single || $this->params->random) {
+				if ($this->params->random>0) {
+					$this->_get_random_id($entry_index);
+				}
 				$this->_prepare_single($entry_index);
 			} else {
 				$this->_prepare_list($entry_index);
-				if ($this->params->random>0) {
-					$this->_randomize_list();
-				}
 			}
 			
 			
@@ -197,34 +200,41 @@
 						
 			$qp =& $this->params;
 
+			$time = entry_idtotime($qp->id);
+
+			// let's get a preceding key in the order relation.
+			// please notice this is hardcoded to $time+1, since
+			// order of the indices is not configurable by the user
+			$prevkey = entry_timetokey($time+1); 
+
 			$key = entry_idtokey($qp->id);
+			#print_r($key);
+
+			#$key = entry_idtokey($qp->id);
 			if (!($entry_index->has_key($key))){
-				trigger_error("FPDB: no entry found for {$qp->id}", E_USER_WARNING);
+				#trigger_error("FPDB: no entry found for {$qp->id}", E_USER_WARNING);
+				$qp->count = 0;
 				return;
 			}
 
-			$this->walker =& $entry_index->walker($key, true);
-
-			/*
-			if ($this->counter < 0) { 
-			
-				$idlist = array_keys($entry_index);
-				$fliplist = array_flip($idlist);
-				
-				$this->local_index =& $entry_index;
-				$this->local_list =& $idlist;
-				
-				$qp->start = $fliplist[$qp->id];
-				$qp->count = 1;
+			// if $includelower = 2 (second parameter) then assumes 'loose' inclusion
+			// i.e. includes the first key $newkey such as $newkey <= $prevkey
+			// also, if $prevkey != $newkey then $prevkey := $newkey
 		
 			
-			}
-			
-			$this->pointer = $qp->start;
-			 */
+			$this->walker =& $entry_index->walker($prevkey, 2, null, null);
+	
+			// since we're searching for $prevkey, i.e. a key preceding the target $id
+			// in the sequence, if $prevkey becomes equal to $key then it means 
+			// $key is the first post (the last in time)
+
+			if ($prevkey == $key) 
+				$qp->start = 0;
+			else 
+				$qp->start = 1;
 
-			$qp->start = 0;
 			$qp->count = 1;
+		
 			$this->pointer = 0;
 
 		}
@@ -291,34 +301,26 @@
 			 */
 			
 		}
-		
-		function _randomize_list() {
+
+		// not so great implementation... doesn't work well
+		function _get_random_id(&$entry_index) {
 			$qp =& $this->params;
-			
-			$i = $qp->random - 1;
-			$nums = array_keys($this->local_list);
-			
-			
-			if ($qp->random == 1) {
-				$i = mt_rand(0, end($nums));
-				$this->single = true;
-				$qp->id = $this->local_list[ $i ];
-				$this->_prepare_single($this->local_index);
-				return;
-			}
-			
-			shuffle($nums);
-			
-			$newlocal = array();
-			do {
-				$newlocal[ $i ] = $this->local_list[ $nums[$i] ]; 
-			} while($i--);
-			
-			$this->local_list = $newlocal;
-			
-			if ($qp->count > $qp->random) {
-				$qp->count = $qp->random;
-			}
+			$now = time();
+
+			$first = '999999999999';
+			$last = '000000000000';
+			$entry_index->getitem($first, true);
+			$entry_index->getitem($last, true);
+
+			$t1 = entry_keytotime($first);
+			$t2 = entry_keytotime($last);
+
+			$t = mt_rand($t2, $t1);
+
+			$random_key = entry_timetokey($t);
+			$entry_index->getitem($random_key, true);
+
+			$qp->id = entry_keytoid($random_key);
 		}
 		
 		/* reading functions */
@@ -361,14 +363,19 @@
 				$this->previd = $this->currentid;
 				$id = $this->currentid = entry_keytoid($this->walker->current_key());
 
+				if ($this->single) $this->preventry = array('subject' => $this->walker->current_value());
+
+
 				$this->walker->next();
 				$this->pointer++;
 			}
 			
 			// pointer == start
 			
-			$this->previd = $this->currentid;
+			$prevcurr = $this->currentid;
 			$id = $this->currentid = entry_keytoid($this->walker->current_key());
+			if ($id != $prevcurr) $this->previd = $prevcurr;
+
 
 
 			if ($qp->fullparse && $this->counter <= 0) {
@@ -465,14 +472,16 @@
 		function getNextPage() {
 			
 			if ($this->single){
-				return false;
-				$id = $this->_getOffsetId(1, $this->params->start);
+				#return false;
+				#$id = $this->_getOffsetId(1, $this->params->start);
+				$id = $this->walker->valid ? entry_keytoid($this->walker->current_key()) : false;
 				
-				if ($id)
-					$label = $this->local_index[$id]['subject'];
-				else
+				if ($id) {
+					$label = $this->walker->current_value();
+				} else {
 					return false;
-					
+				}
+
 				return array($label, $id);
 				 
 			}
@@ -490,14 +499,9 @@
 		function getPrevPage() {
 		
 			if ($this->single) {
-				return false;
 
-				$id = $this->_getOffsetId(-1, $this->params->start);
-				
-				if ($id)
-					$label = $this->local_index[$id]['subject'];
-				else
-					return false;
+				$id = $this->previd;
+				$label = $this->preventry['subject'];
 				
 				return array($label, $id);
 				
diff --git a/fp-plugins/prettyurls/plugin.prettyurls.php b/fp-plugins/prettyurls/plugin.prettyurls.php
index 766a5d6..b2a39fc 100644
--- a/fp-plugins/prettyurls/plugin.prettyurls.php
+++ b/fp-plugins/prettyurls/plugin.prettyurls.php
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ class Plugin_PrettyURLs {
 			} else {
 				// a bit hackish: we make up a fake url when there is no match, 
 				// so that at the higher level the system will 404... 
-				$this->fp_params['entry'] = 'entry000000-000000'; 
+				$this->fp_params['entry'] = 'a';
 			}
 		} else {
 			$this->fp_params['entry'] = $matches[1];