I used the Canon software for a number of years before getting Adobe Photoshop CS5. My wife was in college and we were able to get the student discount. If the CS5 is too much, then Adobe Elements is pretty good, along with Adobe Lightroom. Personally for raw files I really like Lightroom 3 for most of what I do.
If your thinking about Lightroom, wait a few months, Adobe is testing Lightroom 4 right now. You can download the beta version to try out. In fact, you can download any of them for a try out first.

Now if you could fine someone with an old car to park at the pumps for a added touch. I really like just as it is though.

Another vote for Zenfolio.
Also, if you use Lightroom there is an plugin that will allow direct upload from within Lightroom.

I am not sure what kind of people some of you hang out with, but my experience & people I know have had just the opposite experience with police. Sure, 10% of any group of people will be the trouble makers and get all the headlines, but most are just just trying to do a job and go home to their families each night.

As far as taking photos of police in action, if your in a public location you should be free to do so. One exception is if your using video with sound, while the video part is no different some states (like Washington) have laws against recording speech without the person's permission. Turn your mikes off if your in such a state. Your equipment could be confiscated as evidence. Also, the five second video you see on the news might show something completely different if the complete 20 minutes of video in context was viewed.

And if your around a disruptive demonstration, why would you be surprised at being swept up with everyone else? You should know when it's time to just leave.

I am pretty simple with organization. My folders are arranged by year, then major subjects, and then date. Example:
2012/Landscapes/2012-01-27 subject.
If more than one landscape subject on the same date I will give it a separate folder. It's a little more work in the family or people folders, I have applied key words for names of multiple people in the photos.
One of the things I like about Lightroom is how easy it is to apply key words to photos. I spent most of one day going back about four years applying key words. Now if I want to find photos of Reflection Lake at Mt Rainier Park, all I have to search for is Reflection & Rainier like magic there they are. Or search for photos of family members, just search for their name.

This question came up on the Lightroom forum
http://www.lightroomforums.net/forum.php
and the recommendation was to keep only one catalog & backup.
Personally I keep two copies of one catalog. The first is with the program on my C drive, and an identical catalog on my D drive which is where my photos are located.
This does not count the two whole computer backups I maintain on separate USB drives, that I perform once a week.

Spanaway, I sent you a PM

Hi travlnman46, another Washingtonian.
I have learned quite a bit from videos and the Lightroom forums. Also, if you have any questions that you can't find answers to, the experts there are eager to help.

You might also want to join the Lightroom Forums:

http://www.lightroomforums.net/forum.php

Off subject:
I like your signature verse.

Some have mention not to use products with alcohol, but when I did some research I found out that most of the products you buy contain 50% Isopropyl alcohol and distilled water. Only you pay a much higher price for that little bottle.
I use a lens Pen while on the road, but for home I purchased a bottle of 100% Isopropyl alcohol and a jug of distilled water, both from the local drug store. I then mix a 50% solution in another bottle. Very cheap, use it with micro clothes on my camera lens, eye glasses and computer screens.
Works for me.

I have the 5D mark 1 and love it. You can find them for about a $1000.00 (US) or less. I have had mine for about a year, sold my crop camera because it was no longer being used. I plan on keeping it for a couple of years and then sell it and get the Mark 2 after Canon comes out with the Mark 3.
To locate a used one, either one of these sites is a good place to look for one, You have to join either one to post on the "for sell" part of the forums, just like here.
http://www.fredmiranda.com/
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/index.php

And to see photos from the 5Dc, here is a link:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=996038

That is really striking, very beautiful. Makes me want to travel the road to see where it leads.

I have not personally used the program, but others on the Canon forums talked about sending in any Canon camera (film or digital) and were able to use to purchase the newer Canon dSLR's. The available cameras changed daily. I wanted to go to FF and none of those were listed, and even if they were the price would be out of my reach. I purchased a used Canon 5D Mark 1.

Here is a link to the Canon forums:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/index.php

You could use it as a trade in with the Canon Loyalty Program. The camera does not have to work,

http://canonloyaltyprogram.org/