Happy Holidays CC, feel free to impart any bits of wisdom that you like.

Unfortunately, none of the tasty elixirs have passed my lips today, I'm at work. Shhhh.

I know that Glenfiddich has no t in it. Flying phalanges are to blame.

Can I safely assume from the pictture that you posted, that the yumminess from Islay has some peat in it? Most of the Highland Scotches seem to start at still smoldering and go right to burnt log. If you win the lottery, look for a bottle of Octomore. According to the world wide web it has the most ppm of smoke.

I haven't tried it, our local watering hole wants just shy of $300.00 USD for 750 ml. I don't make THAT much.

Anyway, Merry Christmas and I will expect a full report on that bottle.

Not a stunning picture but it illustrates the point of the title.

I'm kidding, by the way. The boss knew before we left that I would be bringing back some Scotch and I left the how much as a very open-ended idea.

The Glenfidditch on the left is empty, it never left the U.K. The Fire and Cane, as they call it, is an experimental bottling that I found in a Costco, of all places, in Glasgow. Glenfidditch is not a Highland Scotch which is usually associated with peated flavorings but it had a very nice smoky taste nonetheless. The container made it home because it housed the bottle of Talisker that can only be had by visiting the distillery. My wife rented a house for three days that was across the street. I went, with number two son where we were able to tour the distillery and taste things. We also learned a thing or two in the process.

The Torabhaig (pronounced something like Tora beg) bottle came from a whiskey shop in Portree. It was another distillery on the Isle of Skye but logistics did not allow for a visit. This also applied to the pretty bottle in the center. Josh and I were able to taste this one and while the taste didn't blow us away, it did have the distinction of being one of the only female-owned distilleries in the country but what really did it was her business model. She allows the employees to distill their own versions of the brand. They do a limited run and them someone else gets a turn. So essentially that bottle of Scotch is a one-of-a-kind deal and the bottle is handpainted to (roughly) match the design on its container.

Raasay was another unknown as far as taste goes because we didn't want to take to ferry to that island. Another "special" bottling, it was recommended by the bonnie lass in the shop.

The Benriach was also untasted but we are an adventurous bunch and I have never had a Scotch over 10 years old that was horrible so off we go to the taste tests. I just have to do some research on the ones that we really like in case they are non-refillable.

If anyone has first-hand knowledge of any of the above, feel free to post your two cents worth. Scotch is a relatively new thing for me so I have much to learn.

I just purchased a new Nikon Z8 from the Nikon Store. The little book that came with it is useless, so I have some questions. I won't be using it for videos.

1. The camera takes CFexpress and XQD cards. What's the difference?

2. When I went on line to price cards, I saw there were CFexpress-A and CFexpress-B cards. What's the difference? Will both work in the camera?

3. About how many still RAW images will fit on a 128gig card?

4. Can you recommend a good 3rd party instruction manual? Amazon offers several.

Thanks for your help.

In the end, it's your money to spend any way you wish, I just don't understand why even pros, but especially hobbyists, need to own every body in one system, let alone two or more. I can certainly see having a backup if you're doing something important, but rushing out to buy a new body every time one is released seems extravagant to me. Maybe it's because I've never had the kind of money to throw around that it takes to do that.

I traded all my film gear—one Canon T-90, and one Mamiya TLR and about 8 lenses for my first DSLR and, I think, two lenses. I don't remember if it was a D100 or 200, but I didn't like it and eventually got rid of it and got a D2X. Naturally, right after I bought it the D3 came out and I was stuck with the crop sensor, but it worked, and i used it for 20 years as my only camera. When I had money to spend, I spent it on a better lens.

After mirrorless cameras had been out for several years, I was starting to hear that manufacturers were beginning to phase out the DSLR so I thought I'd see what all the fuss was about, and I bought a Z50 and the 16-50 kit lens. I still had my Nikkor F-mounts, so I got the adapter. I loved the Z50 so I put the D2X on the shelf and for two years the Z50 was "my camera." But now I think I need a full frame, so what to do? There is now a Z5, Z6, Z6ii, Z7, Z7ii, Z9 and rumors of a Z8. After doing some research, (the Z6 is better for this, the Z7 for that, the Z9 is the flagship and does it all, but not as well as brand S, etc.)

I bought a Z7ii. I kept the Z50 (!! Two cameras?? Oh well, this may be my last fling, let's go all in!!)

Great camera, I loved it! So complicated, but I'll get it down eventually and then...what's this, the Z8 is out and it's the Z9 in a cheaper suit? Okay, but if I get that, the Z7ii has to go. I don't need THREE cameras under any conceivable circumstances. So I traded up under a Nikon promotion going on and now I have a Z50 and a Z8. I am slowly, one at a time, selling off my F-mount lenses and replacing them with Zs, but I have no duplicates; in fact I sold an almost new 200-500 and ordered a 180-600 (which I am STILL waiting for) and then I will be set for the rest of my life.

Already Nikon has announced a firmware update to the Z9 which is supposed to be unrivaled for it's bird focus capability. I will not buy a Z9 to get that. Many, many others will. The Z8 may or may not get something similar, but for me what it has already is fantastic (or will be, if I ever get the 180-600) and so this is my camera, forever.

Yeah, everyone is different...

Years ago I spent my time with an F5 shooting track and field. As to moved away that that and into vacation photos and family affairs, I went digital with a D70, D300, D600. I still have all of these, only using the D600 for sunrises, sunsets, beach scenes. Now I would like to get back to sports, (grand kids), basketball and volleyball. Plenty of FX primes at 1.8, 2.8, and 2.8, 4 zooms. I have run into an issue with lighting in high schools gyms. Barely able to freeze action even with 1.8 primes. Would moving into a D780, or Z6 ii be a solution.

Thanks for your help.

Saw my first XKE back in 1961 in the winter in Fairbanks, Alaska. Saw most of my " foreign " cars there, Porsche, Abarth ,Triumph, Jag sedans , Mini Coopers, MG s, Austin Healeys, Sprites, Midgets, and most others not made in the US. Kind of all dressed up and no place to go. Back then the black top went 4 miles north to the university and ended. Then you could go 11 miles north east out to the end of the black top or you could drive down to Anchorage. Not many roads back in those days for exotic cars. Gas was 50 cents a gallon then, lots of money at the time. Just after my 16th birthday I drove a Borgward ( German ) pulling a trailer down the Alcan Hiway. All gravel back then, sure was fun.