The Economics of Everyday Things

Where is “the cloud,” anyway? It’s in a bunch of nondescript warehouses all over the country. Zachary Crockett serves up the story.   * SOURCES:  * Chris Kimm [https://blog.equinix.com/blog/author/chriskimm/], senior vice president of global customer care and customer experience at Equinix. * Raul Martynek [https://www.databank.com/about-databank/leadership-team/], C.E.O. of DataBank. * Clayton Rosati [https://www.bgsu.edu/arts-and-sciences/media-and-communication/faculty-and-staff/clayton-rosati.html], associate professor of geography at Bowling Green State University.   * RESOURCES: * "How Data Center Alley Is Changing Northern Virginia [https://oxfordamerican.org/oa-now/how-data-center-alley-is-changing-northern-virginia]," by Mac Carey (Oxford American, 2025). * "Noisy, Hungry Data Centers Are Catching Communities by Surprise [https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/15/opinion/data-centers-ai-amazon-google-microsoft.html]," by Sean Patrick Cooper (The New York Times, 2024). * "As Data Centers for AI Strain the Power Grid, Bills Rise for Everyday Customers [https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/11/01/ai-data-centers-electricity-bills-google-amazon/]," by Evan Halper and Caroline O'Donovan (The Washington Post, 2024). * "Data Plantation: Northern Virginia and the Territorialization of Digital Civilization in 'The Internet Capital of the World' [https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/omgc-2023-0017/html?lang=en]," by Clayton Rosati, Aju James, and Kathryne Metcalf (Online Media and Global Communication, 2023). * "A New Front in the Water Wars: Your Internet Use [https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/04/25/data-centers-drought-water-use/]," by Shannon Osaka (The Washington Post, 2023).   * EXTRAS: * "Why Is It So Hard (and Expensive) to Build Anything in America? [https://freakonomics.com/podcast/why-is-it-so-hard-and-expensive-to-build-anything-in-america/]" by Freakonomics Radio (2023). * Data Center Map [https://www.datacentermap.com/datacenters/].

A new thrill ride can cost an amusement park $20 million or more — but roller coasters attract customers like nothing else. Zachary Crockett must be at least this tall to host this episode.   * SOURCES: * Korey Kiepert [https://www.linkedin.com/in/koreykiepert/], engineer and partner at The Gravity Group. * Dennis Spiegel [https://www.interthemepark.com/dennis-l-speigel.html], owner and founder of International Theme Park Services.   * RESOURCES: * "These two amusement park giants just merged. Rollercoaster fans are nervous [https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/06/business/six-flags-cedar-fair-merger-rollercoaster/index.html]," by Nathaniel Meyersohn (CNN, 2024). * "1,000-foot-tall roller coaster may soon be a reality [https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/1000-foot-tall-roller-coaster-may-soon-be-a-reality/]," by Brady MacDonald (Seattle Times, 2024). * "A Century of Screams: The History of the Roller Coaster [https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/coney-century-screams/]," (PBS). * "The Business of Building Roller Coasters [https://priceonomics.com/the-business-of-building-roller-coasters/]," by Zachary Crockett (Priceonomics, 2014). * Roller Coaster Census Report [https://rcdb.com/census.htm]. * The Gravity Group [https://thegravitygroup.com/].   * EXTRAS: * "January 1884: First U.S. Patent for a Roller Coaster [https://www.aps.org/archives/publications/apsnews/200401/roller-coaster.cfm]," by LaMarcus Thompson (Advancing Physics, 2004). * American Coaster Enthusiasts [https://www.aceonline.org/].

It takes a highly skilled stenographer — and some specialized equipment — to transcribe TV dialogue in real time at 300 words per minute. Will A.I. rewrite the script? Zachary Crockett tries to keep up.   * SOURCES: * Doug Karlovits [https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-karlovits-08587110/], general manager at Verbit. * Katie Ryan, live steno captioner at Verbit.   * RESOURCES: * "The Long Case for Machine Shorthand [https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/25/crosswords/steno-online-court-reporters.html]," by Sam Corbin (New York Times, 2024). * "Caption This: Why Subtitling Is Big Business Amid the Content Boom [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/subtitling-big-business-content-boom-1235519270/]," by Kirsten Chuba (The Hollywood Reporter, 2023). * "Everyone Watches TV with Subtitles Now. How’d That Happen [https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/why-more-people-use-subtitles-1234875864/]?" by Wilson Chapman (IndieWire, 2023). * "When is Captioning Required [https://www.nad.org/resources/technology/captioning-for-access/when-is-captioning-required/#:~:text=Broadcasters%2C%20cable%20companies%2C%20and%20satellite,emergency%20information%20in%20some%20locations]?" (National Association of the Deaf).

The ability to get into any home, car, or safe can be lucrative — but fixing locks is a tough business. Zachary Crockett gets the key information.   * SOURCES: * Wayne Winton [https://www.tricountylocksmithservice.com/], owner of Tri-County Locksmith Service. * Philip Mortillaro Sr. [https://www.greenwichlocksmiths.com/], co-owner of Greenwich Locksmiths. * Philip Mortillaro Jr. [https://www.greenwichlocksmiths.com/], co-owner of Greenwich Locksmiths.   * RESOURCES: * "Tools of the Trade, [https://www.locksmithledger.com/keys-tools/article/21251762/tools-of-the-trade]" by Tim O'Leary (Locksmith Ledger International, 2022). * "KeyMe Plans To Use New $35 Million Funding Round To Build 10,000+ Retail Locations, [https://www.forbes.com/sites/marleycoyne/2020/01/14/keyme-plans-to-use-new-35-million-funding-round-to-build-10000-retail-locations/?sh=2990153018f5]" by Marley Coyne (Forbes, 2020). * Tri-County Locksmith Service [https://www.tricountylocksmithservice.com/]. * Greenwich Locksmiths [https://www.greenwichlocksmiths.com/].   * EXTRAS: * LockPickingLawyer Youtube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@lockpickinglawyer/videos].

Those tiny treats that predict your future may come free at the end of a Chinese meal, but they’re big business (and not Chinese). Zachary Crockett will go on a long journey.   * SOURCES:  * Jennifer 8. Lee [https://www.jennifer8lee.com/], documentarian and author of The Fortune Cookie Chronicles. * Norman Wong [https://wontonfood.com/en/philanthropy-2/], C.E.O. of Wonton Food.   * RESOURCES:  * "Canadian Influencer’s Amazement at Absence of Fortune Cookies in China Restaurants Triggers Amusing Online Discussion About Origins of Snack [https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3253332/canadian-influencers-amazement-absence-fortune-cookies-china-restaurants-triggers-amusing-online]," by Yating Yang (South China Morning Post, 2024). * "Fortune Cookies: They’re Japan’s Best-Kept Secret! [https://sakura.co/blog/fortune-cookies-theyre-japans-best-kept-secret?srsltid=AfmBOoo6XeMvrVd7cQm2nrsV1bgbuuyDZuw5OZKLciMqjDyvEgoNRIy5]" by Thalia Harris (Sakuraco, 2023). * "What I Learned Eating at 8,000 Chinese Restaurants [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-59356176]," by Zhaoyin Feng (BBC News, 2021). * The Fortune Cookie Chronicles [https://www.amazon.com/Fortune-Cookie-Chronicles-Adventures-Chinese/dp/0446698970], by Jennifer 8. Lee (2008). * "Lottery Winners Find Good Fortune in Cookies [https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna7818686]," (NBC News, 2005).   * EXTRAS:  * "Girl Scout Cookies [https://freakonomics.com/podcast/girl-scout-cookies/]," by The Economics of Everyday Things (2023).