Apple, Google, Facebook and Yahoo are waging an aggressive campaign to demonstrate that they’re not government stooges
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Google Challenges NSA Secrecy in FISA Court
Google has petitioned a secret U.S. national security court to relax restrictions on the information the tech giant can reveal about government data requests, claiming such restrictions violate the company’s right to free speech …
Germany Has Become the Cut-Rate Prostitution Capital of the World
The presence of thousands of brothels and hundreds of thousands of prostitutes has heightened competition and pushed prices down steeply in the German sex trade. One tourist from Florida, who visits the country three times annually to pay for cheap sex, compares the scene to a discount supermarket: “Germany is like Aldi for …
Curious CapitalistManufacturing
Why They Build Mega Yachts in Central China — an Economic Mystery Story
This article is the second in Foroohar’s series on Chinese business developments and their effects on the global economy; read the first installment here.
It’s tough to feel sorry for billionaires. But even they have taken a hit over the past five years, or so says Brad Bean, the managing director of Dynasty Yachts in Wuhan, China, …
The Real Lesson Behind Excessive Overdraft Fees
When you remove the financial safety net, and individuals understand the choices, they are surprisingly good at doing the right thing.
5 Negotiation Tips From Steve Jobs
An old e-mail exchange between Steve Jobs and James Murdoch illustrates how savvy negotiation works.
Why All Eyes Are on Ben Bernanke This Week
The S&P 500 closed lower on Friday, capping off another shaky week for stock markets, which have pulled back of late after a torrid start to the year. Though weak consumer-confidence data likely contributed to Friday’s declines, …
Curious CapitalistCurious Capitalist
Red Steel City: What China’s Oldest Steel Factory Says About the Nation’s Future
If you want to understand the history of modern China, a good place to start is the Wuhan Iron & Steel (Group) Corp., with headquarters in Wuhan, a centrally located city of 10 million that is often called the Chicago of China. …
The New and (Maybe) Improved Beverage Containers
Beverage producers just keep on inventing new bottles and cans — and growlers and pouches and “Vinis” — to hold beer, wine and other drinks.
The Other Complication for Airbnb and the Sharing Economy: Taxes
Few people involved in the sharing economy know what taxes they’re supposed to pay, nor how to pay them. Because the rules are unclear, enforcement is almost nonexistent, and the feeling that “sharing” shouldn’t be taxed at all, very few people do pay them.
Four Months After the ‘Poop Cruise,’ the Carnival Triumph Sails Again — and Is Sold Out
Is it safe to go back in the water? Based on how the Carnival Triumph was fully booked last week, when it embarked on its first departure after the infamous “poop cruise” incident, plenty of cruise passengers seem to say yes.
Wall Street Falls in Love with Snapchat
The photo-sharing app that’s all the rage with teenagers has found a surprising new clientele: Wall Street bankers.
New Age Philanthropy: Donor-Advised Funds Defy Sluggish Giving Trends
The new face of philanthropy is donor-advised funds for the masses. These fast growing accounts have bucked the trend toward sluggish giving since the recession.
