Topic

Business & Economics

A collection of 90 issues

The Siri You Never Knew: The Ambitious AI Apple Acquired, Not Invented

Apple didn't invent Siri. It was acquired in 2010 from a company spun out of a DARPA AI project. The original app had a broader, more integrated vision than the initial iPhone version, a fact that still surprises many and fuels debate about its lost potential.

The Oscar Gambit: How 'The Deer Hunter' Invented the Modern Awards Season

Facing dismal commercial prospects for its grim Vietnam epic, Universal Pictures pioneered a new release strategy for The Deer Hunter in 1978. A limited one-week run qualified it for the Oscars, and the subsequent nominations transformed it into a must-see event for its wide release.

31 Years in the Red: How Arkham House Published Lovecraft & Bradbury Without Making a Dime

Founded in 1939 to preserve H.P. Lovecraft's work, Arkham House published literary giants like Ray Bradbury. Fueled by founder August Derleth's own money, the legendary horror press incredibly operated for over three decades without a single profitable year, a true labor of love.

More Than a Mansion: The Insane True Value of a Single Tulip Bulb in the 1630s

During the 1630s Dutch Tulip Mania, a single tulip bulb became a symbol of immense wealth. At its peak, a rare bulb's value was equivalent to a mansion, a large estate of land, or decades of a skilled worker's wages, showcasing one of history's first and most dramatic speculative bubbles.

The iPhone's Secret Origin: How Apple's iPad Was Born First

Contrary to popular belief, Apple's iPad was conceived long before the iPhone. After seeing a multi-touch tablet prototype, Steve Jobs realized the technology was perfect for a phone, shelving the tablet project for three years to revolutionize the mobile industry first.

More Than a Mascot: The Shocking Truth Behind Six Flags' Mr. Six

Remember the dancing old man from the Six Flags commercials? Mr. Six became a cultural icon in the early 2000s. The surprising truth is that the energetic character was played not by an elderly man, but by 29-year-old British choreographer and professional dancer, Danny Teeson.

Radioactive Bling: The Time Kix Cereal Put a Real Atomic Bomb Ring in a Box

In 1947, Kix cereal offered a Lone Ranger 'Atomic Bomb Ring' for a box top and 15 cents. This was no ordinary toy; it contained a small amount of the radioactive element polonium-210, allowing kids to watch scintillations—or 'splitting atoms'—in the dark. A true relic of the Atomic Age.

White Coats and Weiners: The Deceptive Genius Behind Nathan's Famous

In 1916, to combat rumors his 5-cent hot dogs were low-quality, Nathan Handwerker hired students to dress as doctors and eat at his Coney Island stand. This brilliant marketing stunt convinced the public the wieners were healthy, launching a global brand.