Gah- where the *manufacturer* would otherwise simply not sell them inventory.

Simple. Because the dealer model enforces at least a semblance of a competitive landscape where the dealership would otherwise simply not sell them inventory for the purpose of reselling- not honor warranties for third-party sold cars, etc. That kind of bullshit.

Dealership model laws are a form of anti-trust. And they worked.

That being said, I don't think manufacturers should be restricted from selling directly to customers. Rather, I think they should have to compete fairly with dealers. Keeps both sides honest.

When you pose the question as an either-or, it's definitely hard to make a choice.
Fortunately, one doesn't have to.

You allow the manufacturer to have its own dealers, and you statutorily force it to sell inventory to independent dealers in a non-discriminatory way.
That way, if either party becomes an unethical shitbag, you go to the other.

Technically, just The Government. The Prosecutor merely acts as their agent- but ya. I wouldn't hold your breath, either.
Even though it's a pretty clear violation of the CFAA, they really only enforce that against solitary kids that scrape research papers.

We move the packets. Get fucked.

I spent a week in Mumbai about a decade ago.
Nastiest place I've ever been on this entire planet. Broke my fucking heart to see how those people live.
Frankly, the Bay Area is better off without you if you consider India better.

Publish all webpages as PNGs made on the fly. Maybe that won't stop AI webcrawlers, I guess they'd just resort to OCR to glean the info.

English is not a prescriptivist language. This is a common enough form, so it's fine.

TNT is good because not only will it release it's energy all at once, it's not super easy not insanely difficult to make it so so.

By the way, kerosene has been popular for ages, and was used in the Saturn 5 and the ill fated N1.

I mean given I'd maybe expect it to be marginally stable at LN2 temperatures, that doesn't imply it's particularly stable. More stable than expected is more like survived long enough when treated with extreme delicacy to take a few measurements.

And for rocket fuel you don't generally want something that will happily donate the entire fuel supply with the slightest provocation.

Really this sounds like it would make another fun article in the "things I won't work with" blog under the category of lunatics destroying lab equipment with hilariously unstable compounds consisting of far too much nitrogen.

Props to those lunatics for making it!

Can confirm they were idle for ages. Years in fact. And somewhat idle before that, it's not like I wear smart shoes often!

Yes, it is. The best I can describe it is that it is some combination of installed base, commonality of parts among model years and an insanely loyalty customer base. The Jeep Wrangler platform is supported by a huge quantity of third party vendors that cater to this market. You can buy COMPLETE BODIES for models that are 30, 40, 50 years old - for example.

OK, that explains it, well, half of it! Jeep don't IIRC have the best reputation for reliability, but if you can basically replace everything forever, and often with better parts that's a different ballgame.

I had never done anything like this, not being a mechanical type, so I learned A LOT!!!

High five! I genuinely mean that. I wasn't born knowing how to fix my bike, I had some help, then had a go, watched videos, learned and kept doing it until it worked. It's also deeply satisfying, saves money and ultimately saves time, or maybe reduces uncertainty which is arguable more important.

I snapped a gear cable recently. I stopped by my local bike store, picked up a replacement, and replaced it before setting off on my commute the next day. Honestly I think the repair took about as long as chinwagging with the talkative guy in the shop.

With all of that work completed, the thing drove better than new. I mean, it was incredible!!

That is a fun feeling I can share. Having the vehicle work better than new from your own work is deeply satisfying. You also get something customised to your tastes, something that wouldn't exist or be affordable otherwise. And unobtainable anyway because you wouldn't have known what to ask for even with a much larger budget.

It's an ecco pair. Super comfortable! This cobbler has already repeatedly resoled and reheeled several ecco boots I own. If I need another new pair at some point I shall look into those.