GREAT 60 IDEA: Buy Used Office Furnishings

When I was an investigative reporter at the Los Angeles Times, my beat was white-collar crime. I had the best job in the world. I was paid to track down the slickest, sleaziest business criminals in the country as they defrauded investors out of millions with precious metals scams, stock frauds, and real estate schemes.

They had two passions: stealing money and working in glitzy offices. To impress prospective victims of their schemes, they usually rented the top floor of a modern office building with a spectacular city or ocean view.

My favorite con man had a reception area the size of a small apartment, with plush gray carpeting and stained glass panels. His perfectly coiffed secretary sat behind a ...

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