Psych-Out!

NPR has this interesting story about the power of illusion (otherwise known as the use of psychology) to get people to do what you want, or to trick yourself into doing things you know you should. Mom did it, the government does it, Madison Avenue does it. Check out Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein's blog, Nudge, and while you're at it, Dan Ariely's book, Predictably Irrational, and the whole discipline of behavioral economics. Thar's gold (or at least, Federally-backed reserve notes) in them thar hills!