The main reason I am tempted by the 18-250 is that last year on holiday I always had the wrong lens on the camera - so when we saw some eagles, I had the kit lens on, and by the time I'd changed lenses they were gone. S I hoped I might overcome this by using the Ds as a second body now I have the K20D but the Bill Payer is enjoying the Ds too much to give it back.

The Tamron 18-270 is only for Canikon at the moment as it has SR built in.

Pity we don't get Rab C Nesbitt with subtitles

I haven't had to activate Elements 6. I just loaded the CD rom fed in the serial number and away it went. The Bill Payer then borrowed the CD rom and put it on his machine too. Maybe it is different with PSE7 but I doubt it.
I had assumed you would need to register it for updates, sorry if I gave wrong information there.

More importantly was the plane taking you back to the UK at last???

I really like the first and third photos.

You don't have to register your copy of Photoshop Elements. Of course this means you can't update it should it be necessary - if you get a new camera and need to update Camera RAW for it for instance, but otherwise there is little reason to register it with Adobe - just key in the code number and leave it at that.

I can't say I have to be honest. Once it is locked in place on my tripod it is locked in place, no movement to be seen.
I still use either a cable release or remote for taking the picture though when I can. Not always possible of course, and even then the pictures are generally sharp.

In the old days when the bill payer smoked he just stuck his fag in between the string and the head stock. He always trims his strings, having seen what happens when someone gets a string end in the eye - not a pretty sight. The only time a string isn't instantly trimmed is if he has to change a string mid gig, but it is trimmed thereafter.
Nowadays, having expensive guitars, which, unlike the Stones et al, he has to pay for he wouldn't allow a cigarette within 10 metres of one!

I have a HPC5280, all in one. I got it because I couldn't afford two printers, one just for photos, and because it can use a special grey cartridge for b/w photo printing.
I am happy with it - the blacks are black, the whites white, and there is no colour cast if I use HP paper, or matte paper, which is what I use most for b/w printing. Some other brands of glossy paper give a bluish tinge to b/w photos, so I stick to HP if I am printing on glossy paper. The matte paper is just from a local shop, no brand.

The choice of paper is important - most will give a colour cast as they are intended for colour printing.

Them's machine heads them is

Nice shot. I too like the dark background. A pity he doesn't trim his strings though!