Who remembers BURMA SHAVE (GREAT reminder of the past)?

I'm sure that Burma Shave actually saved some lives. People laughed and then were more careful! It was a REAL "service" to America, even though it was an advertisement and it was one of the RARE "really useful" ones!

A man, a miss,
A car a curve.
He kissed the miss,
And missed the curve. Burma Shave

DON'T STICK YOUR ELBOW
OUT SO FAR
IT MAY GO HOME
IN ANOTHER CAR. Burma Shave

THIS is pretty interesting. Even if you're Not a Bible scholar - but a little knowledge would help.
The First major US eclipse happened in 2017. Now 7 years later (7 is a significant number) we have another one.
Taken together the eclipses cross over what could be a significant location.
AND - 40 days later (yeah - 40 is also a significant number) is Pentacost. OK - 41 days. Close enough.
Ever since the Star of Bethlehem (and before and after) signs have been in the sky.
Here's hoping He will call his church home sooner rather than later.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUx54CBptTY
Please be kind and avoid ANY comments that might send this to the attic.

I have a very good Vanguard TBH Tripod that weighs about 5.3 lbs including the ball head. I'm preparing for a photo tour that includes a couple of days of backpacking and am thinking of something lighter. At first what I saw from Peak Design and others was that for roughly $300 I could get the weight down to 3 pounds. That hardly seemed worth the money. But now I'm seeing that Ulanzi has some options for a lot less money and slightly less than 3 lbs. So now I'm interested. Here's my questions. Does anyone have experience with Ulanzi? And my second question is carbon fiber vs aluminum. Ulanzi Ombra weighs 1.1 Kg and supports 8 Kg of weight. It's aluminum. Their more expensive MT 60 weighs 1.25 Kg and supports 10 Kg. so pretty close to the same payload to weight ratio and the Ombra stands a little higher - meaning it will be more comfortable for me to use without having to extend the center column. So what am I missing? One thing is I would expect the carbon fiber to be more durable. What else?

I found a lens I've wanted on MPB, at a good price. Seeing lots of positive reviews (including here on UHH) I decided to make the purchase.

I called MPB, asking to place an order over the phone. Told I can't do it, must use web. Ok.

So I placed my order on the web, then got phone call for "security clearance." Fine, I can understand that: it was a big ticket item, and nobody wants to be scammed.

After a few legitimate questions (credit card, shipping address, etc.) they asked if I was an amateur or a professional. Seemed odd, but I played along. Next, what would I be using the lens for? Did I have other Nikon equipment? Had I ever used any other camera brands? I answered, but said I found the questions intrusive, probably more for marketing than for security.

The order went through, but then 3 days later I got an email saying the order was cancelled because it had "not passed our security checks process." I called, and was told that while my credit card had been approved for the purchase, they wouldn't accept my order. I asked to speak to a manager, and was told none were available. They'd get back to me. 3 hours later, no call.

So I've bought the lens from KEH -- slightly more expensive, but no hassles, and much better return policy.

Most of you know that I am pretty confident with the things I know about. But I learned a long time ago to ask and learn about the other things. My friend Stephanie has been incredibly helpful in making me a better photographer. She has dedicated her professional life to educating both students and teachers to be better artists, or in many cases to be artists at all. After six years of teaching in a school environment, she moved to the Education Department of a well-recognized art museum. She has also just completed a MFA degree with a focus on illustration, and is already building an impressive portfolio in that field to add to her other work.

She currently uses a Canon Rebel and her iPhone to do the photographic work for her educational presentations and to build her library of reference photographs to support her illustration work. It is my intention to take her shopping for an updated camera and perhaps a couple of lenses to allow her to quickly, easily, and accurately do the photography she needs and wants to do.

If the target were to be something from the Nikon display, I'd know exactly where to start. But I would appreciate some insight from those of you who may have done this already. Heres what I already know:

This is high-volume work. Time is money. The ability to get images straight from the camera with correct color and sharpness is mandatory. So easily accessible and manipulatable picture control is mandatory.

On the other hand, she has the sharpest eye for color and tone of anyone I have ever known. So her images of museum works will likely be edited...probably while sitting in front of the originals. So those would be raw, most likely.

Again, my interest here is limited to Canon equipment, and the perspective is limited to those who are artists. I know I'll still have to do some filtering, but that's the request.

Thanks a million...in advance.