Who Sent the First Spam Email? (And Why?)

It’s day 3 of our week-long countdown, 25 People Who Changed the World… for Better, for Worse, and for Sillier! Today we head to Japan to find out how vending machines got so advanced, dive into the meme-worthy true story of a shady ancient ingot merchant, and gives props to the guy who kept your house from smelling like a sewer. Plus: How one man accidentally created the sprawling criminal enterprise we now know as spam.

• Visit John Levine’s website to learn more about his books, and check out his work with the RISE Infosec Foundation.
• Listen to The Builders with Walter Isaacson, available now wherever you get podcasts.
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