Wish I could find an excuse to be there... just to play with the DA*55.

Add my voice to the sound of the crowd.

I just bought a K20D kit from SRS and their communications were prompt and accurate. I was happy with the price, which I negotiated down a bit to compare with other sellers. Though it was still a bit more I was happy to pay the difference to deal with such a first-class outfit.

The camera was out of stock initially (so what's new?) but I got an email telling me so and another when it shipped. Unlike the poor practices of others, they do not charge your card until the item ships. So I had the pleasure of watching the pound go up against the euro day after day!

They delivered to Ireland though I had to fill out the web form saying I was in Northern Ireland. This is rather politically insensitive. I think their website should be improved in that regard. And that's the only criticism I can think of.

One nice thing about the camera is the ergonomics. There's a front and rear dial so you can fully control manual mode... just like in film days (or on a K20D) and unheard of on a point'n'shoot. The best of the Sigma (IQ of larger sensor) and Ricoh (ergonomics) should really be combined into one camera.

The GR Digital is the one that takes 13 seconds between RAW shots and has noise even at ISO 100, right? I must wonder why anyone would choose that over a more standard p'n's. The newer model II seems to sort out some of those issues but costs more than a K20D.

Mine was shipped Friday. Yesterday two extra batteries arrived from Hong Kong. I cannot wait for the camera!

Wow, yeah. I have no idea how he could be to blame if the chain of incidents as reported in, say, the Wikipedia article is anything like the truth.

Seems to me that he pulled everyone's bacon out of the fire. I'd say he's a hero.

I have never had a personal experience like that related Peter just above. But thankfully I have no great fear of flying, despite having read technical aviation publications out of interest... a catalogue of what can go wrong. I say "thankfully" because I had one experience that would have put anyone's nerves to the test.

While taxiing down a runway prior to taking positions for take-off, I could see on an adjacent runway a similar aircraft on fire. And not just a little fire; the whole thing was engulfed. I was about to remark on this to my fellow passenger when I thought better of it. Perhaps this would only increase their trepidation?

In any case I am always struck by the professionalism of those working in the airline industry. They perform truly heroic tasks when required. If in doubt look up the story of the Gimli Glider.

Better safe than sorry when it comes to small vessels in the air! Sounds like you did everything correctly.

I recently overhead a salesperson explaining a dual core chip as meaning you do two things at once on the computer, like "doing your email while watching a movie".

But back to Pentax: they are completely superior cameras. Why anyone (other than certain professionals) would buy anything else is down to simple lack of research and gullibility.

You are not the one slinging around personal insults, so there is absolutely no reason for you to apologise.