Inside a literary Ponzi scheme.

To his friends and family, Ross Ulbricht was a compassionate, warm soul known for random acts of kindness. To the F.B.I., he was Dread Pirate Roberts, the mastermind behind the Silk Road who was willing to order hits to protect his black market operation.

On the online mug shot industry, which posts mug shots of anyone arrested (regardless of conviction) and charges $30 to $400 to have the photo removed.

A look at Apple stores, where jobs are high stress, with low pay and little opportunity for advancement.

How J.C. Penney gamed Google and became the top result for searches on everything from “area rugs” to “skinny jeans.”

It’s now routine for corporations to outsource the task of generating new ideas. A look at the consulting firms who meet that need.

DecorMyEyes is a online eyewear store with an unusual business plan; the owner harasses and intimidates customers who complain in order to get negative reviews posted across the web, in turn making his website more visible to Google searchers.