Recommended Reading: Winning (and losing) big on a video poker bug
Recommended Reading highlights the best long-form writing on technology and more in print and on the web. Some weeks, you'll also find short reviews of books that we think are worth your time. We hope you enjoy the read.
Finding a Video Poker Bug Made These Guys Rich -- Then Vegas Made Them Pay
by Kevin Poulsen,
Wired
In 2009, John Kane discovered a glitch in video poker machines that allowed him to hit multiple jackpots in a single sitting. Then one night, Kane hit seven in an hour and half, earning over $10,000 and setting off some major red flags with the casino's security. That sum was actually quite modest compared to other days. Wired has the story of how finding a bug in the gambling machines lead to earning a load of cash for a pair of men, until the workaround was discovered.
Misfit Engineer Rachel Kalmar Wants You to be an Intelligent Node This piece from Fast Company discusses the mindset that Misfit wearables has when it comes to making the gadgets truly useful. Senior engineer Rachel Kalmar talks about the current state, and where the future may lead through the lens of a Burning Man project. | What the Hell Was Megadeth, Arizona? The first website for a band debuted in 1994. It was for Megadeth, and it was weird. With a concept based on a book about roadside stops, the site helped give rise to an internet age that was still in its infancy. This is the story of how it all came to be. |
Guilt By Wikipedia: How Joe Streater Became Falsely Attached to the Boston College Point Shaving Scandal By this point, you've likely been warned not to trust the crowdsourced info that's housed on Wikipedia. Well, the story of how major media outlets have reported on Joe Streater's involvement, or lack thereof, in a Boston College points-shaving scandal should serve as a reminder. | Slutty Halloween Costumes: A Cultural History Halloween wasn't always about gathering up as much candy as you can. What may seem like a recent development to pack sexy costumes into the festivities has actually been around for centuries. |
[Photo credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images]
