Topic

Business & Economics

A collection of 99 issues

The 50% Promise: How Charles Ponzi's Postage Stamp Scam Became a Legend

Charles Ponzi promised investors an astonishing 50% return in 45 days by exploiting price differences in international postal coupons. In reality, he never traded the coupons, instead using money from new investors to pay earlier ones, creating the blueprint for the modern financial scam.

History Business & Economics Biography & Personal Stories

The Audacious Clerk Who Put His Own Face on Money and Changed U.S. Law Forever

In 1866, when Congress authorized a 5¢ bill honoring explorer 'Clark,' Treasury official Spencer Clark seized the ambiguity and put his own portrait on the currency. The resulting outrage led to a permanent ban on depicting any living person on U.S. money, a law that stands today.

History Business & Economics Biography & Personal Stories

Dressed to Kill (But Not in a Tux): The Contract Clause That Redefined Pierce Brosnan's Style

Pierce Brosnan's James Bond contract famously forbade him from wearing a tuxedo in other films to protect the 007 brand. This led to a clever and iconic style workaround for his character in the 1999 film The Thomas Crown Affair, perfectly defining the rebellious billionaire.

Entertainment & Media Art, Culture & Design Business & Economics

The Glitch That Trapped Mazda Drivers in an NPR Twilight Zone

A bizarre software bug in 2014-2017 Mazda infotainment systems caused them to permanently freeze when a local radio station, KUOW, broadcast a logo image without a file extension. The glitch bricked the units, trapping drivers on one station and requiring a $1500 hardware replacement.

Technology & Innovation Entertainment & Media Business & Economics

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