Seth,
> The Query: explain analyze select * from path where start = 653873 or
> start = 649967 or stop = 653873 or stop = 649967
you need to cast all those numbers to BIGINT:
select * from path where start = 653873::BIGINT or
start = 649967::BIGINT or stop = 653873::BIGINT or stop = 649967::BIGINT
Then an index on start or stop should be used by the planner.
--
-Josh Berkus
Aglio Database Solutions
San Francisco