From Good Mag: Tricking people into doing things. Like hitting the urinal in the men's room. If we could just combine that with Tierney's suggestion of ways to become smarter (to avoid being taken over by robots), then we'd be alright. Damn robots. tjc

On the eve of the start of the NFL season Dan Ariely looks into 'big cheating' in the NFL and using a bit of behavioral economics explains how Bill Belichick's cheating may just be the product of the system. What may sound like a justification is really an uncovering of truth in the hope that we are more informed and educated on such matters. glc

This is, of course, not the first time that someone in a position of power has engaged in regrettable behavior, and it is also not the first time that the public and the media has rushed to label such behavior as the act of an unethical individual--a "bad apple." We suggest that this rush to label such behaviors as the actions of one unethical individual often obscures rather than informs our understanding of such behavior, and more importantly it provides no lessons to help us understand and think about how to prevent such behaviors in the future.

For those of you who don't know, the memeticians are a bit obsessed with fantasy football. Joe even lucked into a title in our league two years back - thanks for participating Rich! (Jealous? Bitter? Resentful? Me?!?! - NAH!) Here The Morning News brings us updated draft theories from each of the Presidential candidates. glc

New report: economists are selfish bastards. The market must have demanded it. tjc

Roz Savage spent 99 days rowing from San Francisco, CA to Waikiki, Hawaii in order to raise awareness of the amount of plastic pollution in the ocean. jmj

Also from TMN, Robert Birnbaum recommends: Deer Hunting with Jesus: Dispatches From America's Class War. glc

Sarah Palin brought down the house at the RNC. (SP: What's the difference between a hockey mom and a pitbull? Lipstick.) But protesters are out en masse and the police had to stop Rage Against the Machine from playing an impromptu show, in fear of a riot. So they went a cappella in the crowd. tjc

In case you can't get a hold of Gerard, here is how to solve a Rubik's cube. jmj