it's just later because i logged in after...
it is cookie based.
Ironically this setup works on our development server. Difference is on live they are physically different servers... and there are multiple web servers for the site, but that shouldn't be causing the issue... hmm....
--------------- Added [DATE]1222443269[/DATE] at [TIME]1222443269[/TIME] ---------------
What's weird is that using the new login system that doesn't work... there are NEVER new posts... i can wait 30 minutes with MANY new posts, all with a higher date timestamp... and still, not being shown as new...