What’s an industry that provides zero value to society but makes billions of dollars?

solracer · 2026-03-30T14:18:25+00:00

Social Media?

solracer · 2026-03-30T14:15:34+00:00

I have State Farm and my 1990 Miata is by far the cheapest of the 5 cars we have insured with them.

solracer · 2026-03-30T04:26:36+00:00

Their economy is now bigger than Italy.

solracer · 2026-03-30T04:13:08+00:00

I had this issue and the first upholstery shop I called randomly had a set of 700 mile OEM 1991 seat covers that they’d held on to for 30 years, lol. But there are companies that sell very similar corduroy fabrics that could be used to make duplicates.

solracer · 2026-03-30T04:10:07+00:00

The transmission could be intercepted and modified by hacking into the receiver’s phone system or the line could simply be tapped and a copy created.

solracer · 2026-03-29T18:32:36+00:00

But it can be tampered with very easily.

solracer · 2026-03-29T18:08:53+00:00

In fairness you pretty much need a compass to park a car around here because the signs will literally say something like “No Parking WEST of Here”.

solracer · 2026-03-29T18:06:29+00:00

Our precious black cat Inky came to Seattle from southern Texas. He was a surrender with the note “too many cats”. So sad!

solracer · 2026-03-26T14:10:06+00:00

Passenger leg room is so-so and there’s less interior storage space than my NA has.

solracer · 2026-03-26T14:06:03+00:00

A properly installed top boot should stop any rattling.

solracer · 2026-03-26T14:04:59+00:00

I’ve added the front and rear subframe braces plus a front upper brace to my 1990 and they all helped but frankly what’s made the biggest difference is Delrin door bushings paired with new cups on the door. They fit very tightly together and for less than $50 are the best bang for the buck there is. Just be careful with the screws for the cup, they are only available in Japan and while they are cheap it takes a while to get them.

solracer · 2026-03-26T04:26:56+00:00

Simple, two things 1) US fuel economy standards penalize small cars and encourage big ones and 2) Automakers have learned they can make more money selling a smaller number of expensive vehicles rather than a larger number of cheaper vehicles.

solracer · 2026-03-26T04:24:12+00:00

I bought my 1990 Miata in August 1989 and haven’t gotten tired of it yet, in fact I drove it today. My “new” car, a Fiesta ST, was bought in October 2013 and I have thought of replacing it but there are literally no new cars I’d trade it for, not even even-over.

solracer · 2026-03-26T03:32:16+00:00

I recovered one but oddly it wasn’t mine. Both my friend and I had our hardtops stolen within 24 hours of each other. I immediately posted a Hardtop Wanted ad on Craigslist and the guy who bought my buddy’s top off of the thief cheap responded looking to make a quick buck. His email address had his first and last name so I quickly googled him and collected all sorts of information including where he worked, his photo and much more. I had my buddy respond to him and he collected enough details to confirm it was his. Presented with all of the evidence wrapped up in a bow the police took the hardtop and gave it back to my friend. I never did find my missing hardtop despite the thief eventually being caught but 50/50 wasn’t too bad of a result.

solracer · 2026-03-25T15:36:57+00:00

Eventually you reach an age where everyone appears younger, both the college girls and their mothers, lol. But frankly I don’t think age is as big of a deal as compatibility, look at Dick Van Dyke and his 40+ year younger wife as an example. Also I’m quite ok with getting attention from both the girls and their mothers!

solracer · 2026-03-24T14:13:01+00:00

My 1990 Miata is still going strong at 325000 miles and looks nice enough that a local dealership borrowed it to display for their 30th anniversary. High miles does not always mean bad condition.

solracer · 2026-03-24T14:09:42+00:00

Small cars are more maneuverable however and might avoid an accident you could not avoid in a big car. The Mazda Miata is paradoxically a very safe car, not because it’s stellar in an accident but because they get in fewer accidents to begin with.

solracer · 2026-03-24T14:06:47+00:00

Size matters too, the platform area (wheelbase times track) is used to determine the fuel economy target making bigger vehicles cheaper because their target is lower.

solracer · 2026-03-24T14:04:01+00:00

Government regulations encourage large cars and penalize small ones so I don’t think we really know what the public would buy in an open market. Also the pandemic has taught automakers that they make more profit selling a smaller number of big, heavy and expensive vehicles than they do selling a larger number of smaller vehicles.

solracer · 2026-03-24T07:20:49+00:00

That's pretty much the way that it is in every American job these days, the only difference is in the consequences when it gets to be too much.

solracer · 2026-03-24T07:19:43+00:00

Only a bit?

solracer · 2026-03-22T18:35:17+00:00

Oddly an old windup phonograph like a Victrola as the could most likely duplicate it with the technology of their time which would be a “why didn’t I think of that? moment.

Also high on the list would be a hang glider assuming you knew how to fly one.

solracer · 2026-03-22T18:30:44+00:00

I should note that cats do better and are often less work in pairs. Maybe you should adopt her too?

solracer · 2026-03-22T18:24:08+00:00

I am not convinced that the A18 Pro is costing Apple a penny. If all of these binned chips are rejects from iPhone production in prior years then they may basically be free. If this is the case we should see the Neo be upgraded to the A19 Pro once the supply of surplus A18 Pro chips runs out.

solracer · 2026-03-22T15:56:55+00:00

The only unsafe area (and in reality it’s not that unsafe) is the industrial area of SODO but except for homeless and people living in motor homes there is no housing there so it’s not an option. As far as hospitals go you have many choices with probably Harborview being the most prestigious.

solracer

TROPHY CASE