Quarterback Tom Brady is officially a Free Agent. Winner of 6 Superbowl's. He hasn't said if he will play for another team. Rumor, says the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are wanting him. Is there one more Superbowl left in Tom, who is now 42 years old?

I went to my neighborhood food market. All the toilet paper, paper towels, and pasta, and pasta sauces products were sold out. Spaghetti, macaroni, etc. I went to buy coffee, pasta, and eggs. I was able to get coffee and eggs. In Tennessee, a man traveled throughout Tennessee, bought all the hand sanitizer he could buy. Including Dollar Stores. He wanted to sell them at high prices, to desperate people wanting them. He drove hundreds of miles throughout Tennessee to acquire these. He ended up being stuck with $17,000 worth of unsold stuff. Now, he is being investigated, by the Tennessee Attorney General, for hoarding during an emergency period. Now, the economy is at risk, employees sent home with bills to pay. Schools in my area are shutting down for a month. And more businesses closing down temporarily. I've been around for quite awhile, and I've never seen this much anxiety. Even, with hepatitis outbreaks, wildfires, earthquakes, and floods here in California. But, those were not global though. Volunteers, without the virus, have been given test vaccines for the Coronavirus already. But, don't expect an effective one, to be ready anytime soon.

Tuberculosis (TB) and Hepatitis, three versions there are, A, B, and C, which affects the liver, are indeed serious diseases. I knew two people who had those diseases. A nurse told me, that measles, that was thought to be conquered. Is coming back, mainly because some parents, refuse to have their children vaccinated, before attending school. And, we haven't determined those who die in car crashes. Just in my County alone, 5 people died in car crashes, the past two weeks. Italy had 368 die in one day from the Coronavirus. That is catastrophic. Regardless of age.

I was surprised, when I saw on the TV News, that 80% of all antibiotics, that Americans use come from China. And there is concern about this, especially since it has been announced, C****av***s is now P******c. Also, pain pills, such as ibuprofen, and severe pain prescription drugs. That's dependence that should be changed. People can do without toilet paper for a while. But, not needed prescription drugs.

I knew a pro photographer, who was hired to do portraits of WW2 and Korean War Veterans, at an annual picnic. He used a Nikon D810 with a Nikon 70-200mm f2.8. His wife backed him up, when it became demanding, using a D750 with a Nikon 24-70mm f2.8. The photos taken with the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 were impressive. It, was then, I realized, that the 70-200mm f2.8, is a good for portraits, and not just for fast action sports. Other non professional photographers in attendance there. And not hired to do photos, were using crop sensor DSLRs of various name Brands, had everything from kit lenses, 18-55mm, 50mm, and even Bridge cameras. I used both a Nikon 18-55mm and a Nikon 50mm f1.8G, for portraits when I was there. On a DX camera. I had to make those two lenses work. Even though, they were not the Best. I'm wishing for a Nikon 85mm f1.8G, to have as a portrait lens. I've already checked the reviews on that lens. Positive.

Very good photos of a lovely young lady.

Beautiful flowers. You don't have to live in North Carolina to have allergies. Living in California, I take allergy medications too. The last time I was in North Carolina, (Raleigh) was during September. I had no allergies then.

My father owned a Minolta SRT-101 film camera. I met one person who owned an Asahi Pentax camera, during the time I use to borrow my father's camera. Pentax cameras are very good cameras. But, they were slow to adopt to the full frame family of cameras. Finally, they came out with the K-1.Same sensor as the Nikon D810. It was a bargain priced FF 36 megapixels DSLR, that had good reviews. I think there is a K-2 successor?

Actually, the D5600, D7200, D7500, and the D500, are all very good crop sensor cameras. The D500 and D7500, would be the better low light cameras, IMO. Team either of these DX cameras, with a good quality fast lens, will make a difference. Perhaps, the least expensive prime fast lenses for the Nikon DX cameras, are the DX version 35mm f1.8G, and the FX 50mm f1.8G. All 50mm lenses are full frame formatted. If, you want to go zoom, such as an f2.8, you will have to spend some extra money. You can purchase third party lenses of good quality. The Nikon DX formatted 18-140mm lens, is just an extension of the Nikon 18-55mm kit lens. A lens I own, and liked very much, when I did street photography. Good luck.

Apparently, you didn't read the last two sentences of my thread. I never mentioned how anyone should spend their money. I stated the amount of money I would spend. You can spend your money as you please. It's your money. It's none of my business.

I still have a tripod that my father gave me after he sold his film Minolta SRT-101 about 20 years ago. The tripod is about 40 years old. He bought it new. Aluminum, with a tilt pan head mount. I have two other cheaper aluminum tripods, that were given to me by friends, Surprise gifts I accepted with thanks. One is a Sunpak 52 inch, and the other is a Targus 50 inch. Both are too short for my needs. I have decided to give them away to a Community College Photo Dept., or High School. As an amateur/hobbyist, I won't spend many hundreds of dollars on a tripod. I feel I can get a good, new tripod for less than $200, when I get my next one. But, for professional photographers, I can see purchasing the best, or one of the best available. Your skills get you paid, and mediocre equipment, including a tripod, is not practical.

Wow, what a beautifully restored automobile. You took some great photos. I have a friend who owns a Cadillac Escalade, and he is a fan of the old Cadillac automobiles, dating back to about that time. Early 1900s. I will show him your photos, of the Austin Model 60.

Yep, I remember those days of fixing cars the hard way. I had a 1961 Chevy Corvair, engine in rear. Starter problems too. And, I went from the frying pan to the fire too, when I bought a 1961, straight 6 cylinder Chevy Biscayne. I put in several starter/solenoids in that car. Because they kept sticking. All had automatic transmissions. Finally, got rid of that car, for an 8 cylinder 2 door Buick. What a difference. An upgrade, and reliable.

Two professional NBA basketball players from the Utah Jazz Team. Both young, strong, and in good physical condition, have tested positive for the Coronavirus. One sometimes mentioned falsehood, is that if you meet the young, strong, and healthy requirements, you are most likely not to test positive. Only, if you are elderly. There is some truth to that, because in Kirkland, Washington, one nursing home had 18 elderly die from the Coronavirus. Italy, is having a big problem, because nearly 25% of its population is over 60 years of age. And, it is so bad there, that Italy has requested aid from other countries. I fall in the age category. And, I have chosen not to go to events, where there are numerous people congregated. Such as Concerts, movies, all you can eat buffets, that I go to monthly. If, you have a pre-existing medical condition, you are at risk. Such as a heart condition, diabetes, kidney or liver failure, asthma, cancer patients on chemotherapy, and any other respiratory disorders. If, you have any of those medical conditions, your immune system may not be strong enough to fight it off. Personal hygiene, mostly washing your hands regularly, and exercising some common sense, is your best defense. I saw on the TV News two days ago, that 70,000 people that have been tested for the Coronavirus, have recovered. That's good news. It's not a complete death sentence for everyone. We will get past this. In time.

I said "money not being made."