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Kynan Eng is president of a computer company that uses computers and brain research to help people live better lives. Eng wanted to use his expertise to respond to online questions about the intersection of neuroscience and human-computer interaction. When we went to Quora, he found himself distracted…

A forgotten block of Wisconsin cheese dating back to the 1970s will be sold for $10 an ounce. Edward Zahn was preparing to close down his shop when he moved several stacks of cheese and discovered several boxes that had been forgotten for years. The crates contained blocks of cheddar cheese that were…

Retail stores are not typically known for their generosity, but consumer electronics giant Best Buy has recently been unexpectedly generous to two customers. Both of the shoppers ordered iPads online and were shocked when a box filled with five of them arrived at their door. When contacted, the company…

The economic crisis in Greece has many families doing anything they can to raise extra money. The government recently stepped in and published guidelines to help prevent citizens from being ripped off by pawnshops offering to exchange gold for cash. Authorities say many businesses are promising to pay…

An online computer game retailer revealed that it now owns the souls of thousands of shoppers due to clause it inserted into an online agreement. On April 1, 2010, British retailer GameStation, inserted what they termed an “immortal soul clause” into a contract signed before shoppers finalized their…

Infomercials OK, I’ll admit it. Every now and then an infomercial on Saturday morning TV draws me in and I watch for a few minutes. There is just something seductive about their claims–build instant wealth, lose weight quickly, learn a new language in your sleep–I guess the reason I linger over them…

GAMBLING/LOTTERY Lotteries offer big jackpots and instant riches, but these promises often mask the true economic nature of gambling. The National Center for Policy Analysis notes show that states usually keep only about a third of the money collected through ticket sales. The remainder is paid out in…

DECEIT Would you be willing to buy a flat screen TV for $250.00? Would you be willing to buy an oven door with a cord and a remote control for the same amount? Leaan Day's boyfriend thought he was doing one, but did the other. Many unsuspecting people who thought they were getting a good deal on a flat…

SOUL An Australian council gave an Irishman special permission to dig through a local garbage dump. The man is desperately trying to find a lottery ticket worth 1.5 million dollars ($700,000 US), that he says he accidentally threw out in an empty grocery bag. Newsagent Sue Virgin said the winning ticket…

APPROPRIATENESS As the fighting began in Iraq, many of the nation’s biggest marketers pulled their advertisements from various media outlets. McDonald’s Toyota, MasterCard, PepsiCo, and several other companies with big advertising budgets pulled their ads from television, as well as trimming ads on the…