Hey Alarmie, today we're changing things up a bit.

We're sharing with you a podcast that will leave you thinking differently about the stories

of the past.

It's called cautionary tales, and, like the alarmist, it looks at the greatest mistakes, tragic

catastrophes, and daring heist from history.

Best-selling author, Tim Hartford, takes you on a wild ride through the extremes that human

behavior and nature can throw at us, pointing out the valuable lessons we can learn from them.

Some stories will delight you, others like the one we're about to share may scare you,

but they'll all make you wiser.

Picture this.

It's a sweltering Kansas City, July evening in 1981, and hundreds of dance contestants

are enjoying a Friday night in the futuristic, high-at-regency hotel.

The dance floor is buzzing, the orchestra is belting out tunes, and everyone is having

a ball.

Suddenly, a sharp crack reverberates above the den of the dance floor.

Three massive glass skywalks above the lobby come crashing down, electric cable swinging.

A cracked pipe causes a rapid flowing flood, leaving the party goers trapped under piles

of rubble and fighting for their lives.

What caused the collapse and who was to blame?

Was it simply bad architectural design, or was it something more mundane, but much more

troubling?

You'll have to listen to find out.

...