The combination of heat and agitation are needed to shrink fabric (especially wool). Heat makes the normally kinky, twisty, grippy fibers more flexible and looser. Agitation allows the loose fibers to reach other fibers farther away and grab onto them as they cool, pulling them closer, thus shrinking the fabric.
Heat and very careful stretching can somewhat restore the original size, but restoring the shape is harder.
You watch too many movies, my friend.
Under cover people tend to be super outgoing and friendly people who get real chummy with other people who happen have access to valuable information.
If I hadn't read the headline, and just looked at the pictures, my first reaction wouldn't that they changed they changed her race, but that they faked a ton of makeup, added highlights, and "enhanced" the outfit's shoulders.
For the last 20 years I've used unique (optionally) disposable email addresses for every site and service I've signed up for. Avoided facebook completely & don't reuse usernames across sites.
Confession: I did use the same username on AIM & Twitter, but both those sites are dead now.
I see no evidence that these bike manufacturers are super profitable, so I doubt there is much "massive profiteering". Good bicycles are a high tech but low volume industry.
I spent 1.2k on a lower-end-good-bike 11 years ago. It's the best fun per dollar purchase I've made in my 60ish year life. I wish I'd spent a few hundred more for an Ultegra group set.
Cycling is the new golf. There are lots of 50 year old dentists with disposable income out there who think electionic shifting and aero carbon wheels will enable them to drop their "buddies" on their Saturday group ride.
"Can this thing magnify smells too?"