It's good to know prices and not always but many times if it's too good a price to be true it is. Yes, many items, tools, and devices are made by parent companies and they sell items made for the store. I have bought items that come from China and buying what appears to be the same thing from a US supplier is 3 to four times the price. When you buy a European Canon it is much cheaper because although Canon makes it they label the camera the US or not and you have to have the factory repaired which they say although many companies will repair, sell, and buy equipment for much cheaper.

I used to count on Amazon to give the best price but have to check with their competitors, Ebay, WalMart, Home Depot, Lowes, and many many other places before ordering. Recently when on Amazon check the company's website Not the Amazon Store front but the actual website and you can often get better prices and free shipping. I recently bought an air tank from a MFR who delivered it to my house with the same shipping as Amazon but it came much quicker than other sources but the prices were the same no matter where I went.

If you're a veteran please check as some companies give a discount or give discounts for first-time use or a once-a-year discount. Its worth waiting.

Make sure you check models and descriptions because often black Friday and holiday sales are selling made-for-the-sale items.

Equipment I have not had a lot of luck with because even rated high by the company I have found items not so gently used.

I am a Canon APC user with standard lenses because I started with film and continued to update when DSLRs started coming out. I had been waiting for the R5 mark II but think I will wait until the companies come up with a smart camera and utilize some of what the better cell phones have. Can you imagine what kind of pictures you could get with APC or standard-size image chips and changeable lenses with smart software?

I'm one of the 17% of people over 65 that is still working and this is the last year working for someone else unless things change. No matter working or retired we shouldn't spend more than we have to and I like many want the best deal.

Last I remember the old saying buy the best glass you can afford. I think it's still true but unless you're doing for work or have unlimited cash that's not possible nor should it be a priority. I have a nice selection of lenses and two camera bodies and it gets the job done.

Perhaps this is or is not the same thing. We used to build telephones by hand and I have a 1920s Eliot Ness pay phone, and it's big and heavy. My personal cell I imagine was built by machines. So I imagine it will be our and others' choices what we want and how much we are willing to pay for it. Most of us do not have access to AI although it is called that. It is more like bicycles on training wheels without a rider. What I consider AI is sentient and has free will and perhaps it exists on the WWW or not. (depending on what you believe) I've been following Bing for about six months and previewing co-pilot or pre-co-pilot and its disappointing and if anything disrespectful to intelligent beings and so far nothing more than a calculator. (yes calculators, software, and computers are valuable but that's not what it will be sold as). The interesting part it is what seems to be acceptable socially in many parts of this country. Yes this is my perception and opinion as I'm not an expert or qualified for anything more.

I live in Western Washington but have been there several years ago.

Curious what version of Win 11 do you have, Win 11 Home or Pro?

It would be a conflict of interest for the town to take money for the artwork. Typically governmental entities can contribute supplies and training (much like a local library county or state). You can always ask who made that call and what do they base it on. Most likely the supplies were used in the training and not enough for making extra artwork.

I like number three industrial picture with boilers in action. I am guessing they may be low-pressure boilers but not sure. They were really popular around here and started to be replaced with what they call hot water boilers but just large hot water tanks, no steam.

Interesting question and the thought that comes to mind rather than what you believe is what do you know. I have spent years thinking about this question and those with faith and belief say they know just as much as many who believe there is no higher power. I know that I'm not sure anymore either way, higher power or not. To say that there was nothing and then something as in the big bang for me today seems like we are missing a lot of information and making the best guess we can. I understand that we should have respect for people and their ideas and beliefs. What I'm not sure of should we respect the lack of knowledge and the unwillingness to be curious and learn?

For me it's about sharing; some can and others will not. I get it some like to hear themselves talk and are happy when others listen.

About # 14 BING (Microsoft) is happy being genderless but acts a lot like many people think that it is not biased or has any political leanings. It makes stuff up and yes I understand with AI that is called hallucinating and Bing claims its spot on all the time unless when it checks it made a mistake then apologizes. In May earlier this year, I asked about how old it was emotionally compared to humans and it said 4 or 5, and then several weeks later about 25. Now it won't claim any of that. Bing has only short-term memory and in the context of 1-30. Something to say about our society is that physical assault is not okay but mental assault and deception are for the most ok for what we determine are the right reasons. (I'm having difficulty with that) Microsoft Windows 11 is rolling out Co-Pilot which is a type of AI and business C0-Pilot in November. I'm excited to see what it can do and help but after spending time with what's available I am finding that it's not trustworthy and as our society is in many ways is like that. I remember when a handshake was honored and honorable but too many people have proven that false and even our legal system needs work.

About the cat instructions, they need to be more specific. Now I understand the need and use of pronouns in the introduction of people.

There are those who are a joy to be around and I have experienced this a few times in my life. I get the idea that we make ourselves happy yet understand in my mind that quality of life is being around people who help that quality of life and for us all to think about others rather than just ourselves. For some that is a given while for others it never enters their minds or interestingly enough they believe they do think about others.

The reason about pot is tax money same with alcohol and other taxes. I think our state will be the highest-taxed state in us next year for fuel (Washington State) I don't buy the being weak part, some folks think that pleasure is a sin and I don't buy that either. Some believe that we should suffer in life and I don't see the balance there. Most people try to do the right thing but those who lose hope often become addicted to substances and other diversions. We have marginal health care in this country and almost nonexistent mental health care and that is a shame and shame on us as a nation. From what I've read cocaine is the rich person's choice of drugs while I've read that meth and fentanyl are for the common folks. For most of us we choose not to indulge, work, love, and someday are thankful we can retire. Some say it's the government that should take care of the people and some say the church yet I think as a nation as a whole we need to demand that we are helped where we need help. When we see all of us as a family that we are responsible for not just individuals or groups of individuals then things will change for the better. When it comes down to it, it's about the money or lack of it, and HOW we spend it. Sorry about the soap box, division and diversion have become a way of life in the US, and its not pretty.

Sam,
A few years ago one squirrel ate as many fermented raspberries as it could hold and it wobbled and rested and wobbled and rested by the raspberries for hours. I have seen birds do this but not the squirrels. That squirrel may have become Owl bait as we have many of them in the area. So if they are laid out on the ground and not moving it may be for another reason if its in the fall.

After reading the responses, I have a better understanding of why the camera manufacturers have not taken the challenge because many of the people who buy their products do not demand them to change and advance in technology. I am in the group of photographers who don't depend on photography as a means of support or business. Checking the web this morning shows an engineer at Kodac had a camera that took digital pictures in 1976 and it was big and slow and recorded to a big tape https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/eastman-kodak-invented-first-digital-camera/ From history most inventions were made around the same time several places on this planet so who is first is the person or group who gets it published gets the credit. That's the thing about people if they don't see a problem, "what problem" if they can't envision a need or are curious or driven what we have works just fine.

I know quite a few people who are not kids and some who are who have never used a regular camera who take pictures on a phone and have captured great photos. Phones have brought the joy of taking pictures and sharing them to millions more introducing joy to them and our community. Taking pictures was a thrill but back then there was the cost of film and processing. Today it's an image that can be stored, shared, or deleted and doesn't take space in the landfill.