Thanks for all the comments guys, really appreciate it!!
redwatch! my dad goes to that site so much, especially after he bought his D300.
I would be all over the new canon S90, if it had HD video shooting capability... even if it was 720p.
After much thought, i don't think i care about the video shooting, because the main reason for my camera is to take excellent photographs...
and i believe either the Canon S90 or Lumix LX3 will do the job...
now it's just a matter of which...