the abbreviated reign of “neon” leon spinks

CONTENTS viii
Lesson #18 BEWARE THE PROFITING PROPHET
The Y2K Scare
To nervous Americans on the eve of the 21st century, a couple of missing
digits in a computer program foretold a looming techno- apocalypse. So a
few entrepreneurs did what they do best: turned fear into cash.
{ 195 }
Lesson #19 DON’T MESS WITH SUCCESS
The XFL’s Quick Takedown
In a single season of televised T&A, backstage buffoonery, and second- rate
football, the league launched by wrestling impresario Vince McMahon and
NBC recorded the lowest prime- time ratings in network history.
{ 206 }
Lesson #20 OCCASIONALLY LOOK UP
FROM YOUR WORKBENCH
The Quixotic Quest for the Flying Car
As they have for generations, aviation wonks and Pop u lar Mechanics subscribers
continue working toward the Holy Grail of private transportation:
the flying car. Never mind that nobody needs one anymore.
{ 219 }
The Bonus Chapter Fiascoes That Failed to Qualify for Oops 230
Think We Blew It? Tell Us About Your Favorite Failures 236
Chapter Notes Or, How We Learned These Twenty Lessons 237
Index 279
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Books by Martin J. Smith and Patrick J. Kiger
Credits
Cover
Copyright
About the Publisher