In July 2012, Zippo celebrated the production of its 500 millionth lighter.
Walter George “Jumbo” Brown, a 255-pound New York Yankees pitcher in 1933, once injured two of his teammates when a game of leapfrog they were playing went awry.
A 2002 National Bureau of Economic Research study of 21 states found that, in the first year after each state began a lottery, consumers spent $42 less per month per household (about the cost of buying lottery tickets). One California grocer has stopped selling lottery tickets because its profits had fallen off 10% after beginning to offer them.
Mick Jagger used to sell ice cream.
Crackers are called such because they make a crackling sound during baking. Josiah Bent is often credited as the inventor of the cracker. In 1801, he began selling “water crackers” – biscuits made of flour and water that didn’t deteriorate during long sea voyages.
This article appears in August 24 • 2012.