Clean repo for open source release

Remove build artifacts, dev tool configs, unused dependencies,
and third-party source dumps. Add proper README, update .gitignore,
clean up Makefile.

src/main/java/com/tiedup/remake/items/GenericEarplugs.java

@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+package com.tiedup.remake.items;
+
+import com.tiedup.remake.items.base.EarplugsVariant;
+import com.tiedup.remake.items.base.ItemEarplugs;
+import net.minecraft.world.item.Item;
+
+/**
+ * Generic earplugs item created from EarplugsVariant enum.
+ * Replaces individual earplugs classes (ItemClassicEarplugs).
+ *
+ * Factory pattern: All earplugs variants are created using this single class.
+ */
+public class GenericEarplugs extends ItemEarplugs {
+
+    private final EarplugsVariant variant;
+
+    public GenericEarplugs(EarplugsVariant variant) {
+        super(new Item.Properties().stacksTo(16));
+        this.variant = variant;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Get the variant this earplugs was created from.
+     */
+    public EarplugsVariant getVariant() {
+        return variant;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Get the texture subfolder for this earplugs variant.
+     * Issue #12 fix: Eliminates string checks in renderers.
+     */
+    @Override
+    public String getTextureSubfolder() {
+        return variant.getTextureSubfolder();
+    }
+}