ux: dark-theme conversion + forum hero + ticker cleanup

- /manufacturers index + DirectoryClient: convert white/light-ink theme
  to BB dark theme so it stops standing out against the rest of the site
- /manufacturers/[slug]: same conversion, includes the new executives
  card grid and Headquarters block
- /nab-2026: same conversion, including hero gradient and sponsor tile
  borders (amber on dark instead of amber on white)
- Forum: remove "Top Performing Threads" widget from both /forum and
  /forum/[slug] (display only — TopThreadsWidget component preserved
  in case admins want to re-enable later)
- Forum hero: vertical padding py-10 → py-5, tagline reduced from
  three sentences to one. Adds a "Sign in to post" or "Start a thread"
  CTA in the hero's top-right depending on auth state.
- Recent Forum Posts ticker: drop replies entirely, surface only thread
  titles so breadth of conversation shows instead of the loudest
  threads dominating with reply chatter.

src/app/api/ticker/forum-posts/route.ts

@@ -22,65 +22,32 @@ export async function GET() {
     auth: { persistSession: false },
   });
 
-  // Newest threads + newest replies, interleaved by timestamp.
-  const [threadsRes, repliesRes] = await Promise.all([
-    sb
-      .from('forum_threads')
-      .select('id, title, author_name, created_at')
-      .order('created_at', { ascending: false })
-      .limit(20),
-    sb
-      .from('forum_replies')
-      .select('id, body, thread_id, author_name, created_at, forum_threads(title)')
-      .order('created_at', { ascending: false })
-      .limit(20),
-  ]);
+  // Threads only — per editorial direction we surface unique topics, not
+  // reply chatter, so the ticker shows breadth of discussion.
+  const threadsRes = await sb
+    .from('forum_threads')
+    .select('id, title, author_name, created_at')
+    .order('created_at', { ascending: false })
+    .limit(40);
 
-  if (threadsRes.error && repliesRes.error) {
+  if (threadsRes.error) {
     return NextResponse.json(
-      { error: threadsRes.error?.message || repliesRes.error?.message, items: [] },
-      { status: 500 }
+      { error: threadsRes.error.message, items: [] },
+      { status: 500 },
     );
   }
 
-  const items: TickerItem[] = [];
-
-  for (const t of threadsRes.data || []) {
-    items.push({
-      id: t.id,
-      href: `/forum/thread/${t.id}`,
-      title: t.title,
-      kind: 'thread',
-      author_name: t.author_name,
-      created_at: t.created_at,
-    });
-  }
-
-  for (const r of (repliesRes.data || []) as Array<{
-    id: string;
-    body: string;
-    thread_id: string;
-    author_name: string | null;
-    created_at: string;
-    forum_threads?: { title: string } | { title: string }[] | null;
-  }>) {
-    const parent =
-      Array.isArray(r.forum_threads) ? r.forum_threads[0] : r.forum_threads;
-    const parentTitle = parent?.title || 'forum reply';
-    items.push({
-      id: r.id,
-      href: `/forum/thread/${r.thread_id}`,
-      title: `Re: ${parentTitle}`,
-      kind: 'reply',
-      author_name: r.author_name,
-      created_at: r.created_at,
-    });
-  }
-
-  items.sort((a, b) => (a.created_at < b.created_at ? 1 : -1));
+  const items: TickerItem[] = (threadsRes.data || []).map((t: any) => ({
+    id: t.id,
+    href: `/forum/thread/${t.id}`,
+    title: t.title,
+    kind: 'thread',
+    author_name: t.author_name,
+    created_at: t.created_at,
+  }));
 
   return NextResponse.json(
-    { items: items.slice(0, 30) },
+    { items: items.slice(0, 40) },
     {
       headers: {
         'Cache-Control': 'public, s-maxage=300, stale-while-revalidate=600',