lenses that can achieve a narrower field of focus are the more expensive ones, so there is established artistic value. Lens flare can also have value, and is really difficult to use effectively, so there is probably also a market for that.

My local independent bookstore offers 10% off cover price on ALL new books, all the time, no membership needed. They have the used copies on the same shelf, too. (and no sales tax in Oregon)

Cover prices are generally set by the publisher, not the retailer.

In my town, regardless of industry, warehouse workers are mostly employees of temp agencies, and usually only get hired on at a company after working there as a "temp" for over a year.

There is nothing sinister about it, these jobs have high turnover, from all causes, and generally they would have to hire multiple HR people just to manage them. The temp agencies are in a better position to manage workers who often don't last in an assignment. Maybe Joe Worker does fine the first 3 months, but then starts to have "personality conflicts." The temp agency can actually still make good use of this worker, and can reduce the overhead costs by avoiding assignments that require a lot of training. An in-house HR department isn't in that situation with these workers, so even if they spend the extra money to manage them, they just have to fire them anyways. It can be literally "impossible" to have a well-managed in-house warehouse workforce, because you can't evaluate, hire, train, and fire, workers fast enough. So you choose between being under-trained, or under-disciplined. The temp agency doesn't have to evaluate, hire, fire every time. They've abstracted out the different parts. So they can provide higher quality low-level workers than you could hire on your own. And when you want to change one out, there aren't a bunch of rules and red tape; nobody is getting hired or fired. You're simply ending an order on temp number #999999, and requesting a replacement, who will show up on time in the morning. And if it was some BS reason, or a "personality conflict," or somebody that got bored after a few months, that worker will call in every morning and probably get another assignment shortly.

My town's largest independent bookstore, 100+ miles from Powell's, is still doing good business at both their traditional locations. They mix new and used copies on the shelves. They also give 10% discount off cover price on all new books; they can do that because many of those books will be sold back after being read, and can be sold again (and again) as used.

Multiple book super-stores have opened and then closed outlets here. The premium new-book superstores, which are not independent, just can't compete. They're hit from both sides; amazon is more convenient, and convenience would otherwise be the superstore's advantage over locals; and the locals carry both new and used, so they beat them on price and in some ways on selection, in that even if you want the new book, there are multiple price points on the same book to choose from.

Bookstores are unlikely to ever have the percent of overall retail sales that they once had, but I don't see any trend that implies they don't have long-term potential. The lame local stores who were poorly run and only survived based on location already failed, and we've seen chains fail too, but the independents with good service and balanced offerings are doing fine.

A coffee shop I used to frequent had that problem. It isn't just that they might OD. It leaves an awful smell, and sometimes there is even still heroin vapors in the air. It makes the restroom unusable for hours to anybody who realizes what the smell is, and doesn't want to do that drug. Business very suddenly went way down... until the owner started physically catching them inside the front door, and hauling them back outside. As soon as one fought back and got arrested, word got around the junkies not to use that restroom anymore, and the problem was solved.

In SF in the tourist areas they have coin-op one-seaters. The junkies still use them, but less often.

A lot of people already leave the house other than for work, so they're already near the bookstore while out doing other things. So they don't have to drive to the bookstore. They just walk in the door.

In my city the local bookstores are owned by multi-generation locals with strong connections to the community, and most of the employees have been there for decades. I've never seen a HS age kid, that would be funny... the bookstores here expect workers to be broadly well read and be able to assist customers with questions.

Also in my community if teenagers are working, it is assumed to be a good thing.

Internet says the B&N price is $5.82. The list price is over $20. It is obviously not selling. (it might even be a popular book, but just that the over-sized format paperback was over-printed)

Local bookstores have a bargain bin, too. The timing on individual failed books might be different though, with the local stores being slightly later as they're making more monthly and weekly decisions.

Even when the B&N has it as a failed discount online, when they mark it down in the brick & mortar might depend on how many other failed titles they have in stock at that time. But if you regularly shop brick & mortar, you'll still see the same titles in the discount bin, and at similar prices.

the Black Knight is designed specifically for autonomous casualty evacuation and unmanned cargo resupply missions. While it can be flown by an onboard pilot, its unmanned capabilities are intended to keep pilots out of harm's way on dangerous missions.

It isn't intended to always come home, or to replace special forces helicopters.

I've eaten plankton and while it is a great supplement, it tastes nothing like shrimp or chicken.

Somebody will have to invent a quality Plankton Burger. (TM)

The large farmed prawns that are grown in the same fields as rice are freshwater prawns. Actually most of the large prawns in stores are freshwater prawns, generally grown in pens in rivers in Asia.

"Pay to win" is the insult, often not relevant, not the name of the genre. How can your view be taken seriously when you have a closed mind, and have resorted to name-calling?

I'm sure you can get a dash camera kit. And you could probably rig it yourself.

But I'm thinking the windshield HUD is probably not something you're going to build yourself. You could, I know, I know. But you won't. ;)

And if you tried, it might turn out to be non-trivial.

See the price list somebody else replied with, and you'll see it is not so.

It is true that the most expensive Yamaha's are more than the cheapest Steinway's.

However if you would have read that price list instead of posting it, you'd realize that it confirms what I said. I used Yamaha as an example because they also sell professional level concert grands. Obviously there are other companies with lower prices, but those wouldn't be good for making the point, because they might be seen as apples and oranges.

As far as concert grand pianos go, Yamaha is a "less expensive" brand compared Steinway. And the price difference is generally assumed to be nameplate.