Slashdot Mirror
Junkyard Owner Saves Lunar Rover Prototype (vice.com)
An anonymous reader writes: On Tuesday, Slashdot users learned that a man in Alabama sold a lunar rover prototype for scrap metal. We now learn that the junkyard owner has saved this important piece of scientific history. The man claims that, upon receiving the prototype at his scrap facility, he set it aside because he knew exactly what it was.
it's OK - they had to wait until Tuesday to collectively mock all the people who live in Alabama. Now that they've realized that a junkyard owner there knows more about space history than they do, they can take the whole day Friday to reflect on how much the experience has caused them to grow as individuals.
My God, it's Full of Source!
OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
The Junk dealers is ALWAYS going to know how much it's really worth (and if he's not sure he'll put it aside until he does know) and I highly doubt he's going to voluntarily hand it over without receiving a check for how much it's worth.
One of the prime profit opportunities in the junk business is to receive items that aren't junk. Dealers are always on the lookout for special non-junk items they can make a bundle on because some ignorant dumbass sold it to them for a few cents a pound. It's not that much different than the pawn business where they are always on the lookout for antiques and other items they know are worth far more than the owner believes.
When I heard this story I was at first incredulus that the guy didn't walk across the street and tell the neighbor what it was. Then I realized that the chances the Junk dealer wouldn't put it aside and determine the worth before melting it down was near zero. Then I realized the guy that didn't walk across the street basically screwed over the neighbor by not telling him how much it was worth with the side realization that he may have cut a side deal with the junk dealer by tipping him off.
More like:
Junk Yard: You can have it for $FAIRLY_LARGE_SUM, or I'll sell it to the highest bidder. But out of deference, I'm willing to give you first access without bidding.
NASA: Give it to us for free, or we will use legal acton (which is why junkyard owner brought in lawyers and kept silent).
NASA probably lied to try and cast doubt on the authenticity of what he had to reduce the selling price so they could get it cheaper. Far more believable than your absurd fantasy of the junk yard owner threatening to melt down a priceless artifact.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Weren't you recently complaining in another thread about people posting sexist/racist comments?
If you're going to go around making bigoted and stereotypical remarks yourself, perhaps you shouldn't whine when other people do it.