Reader staffers share stories that fascinate, amuse, or inspire us.

Hey, did you read:

• That a "federal district judge ruled on Monday that the National Security Agency program that is systematically keeping records of all Americans' phone calls most likely violates the Constitution"? —John Dunlevy

• That one high-ranking NSA official would consider granting Edward Snowden amnesty in exchange for whatever incriminating documents he possesses? —Tal Rosenberg

• Spencer Ackerman at the Guardian rereporting 60 Minutes' report on NSA surveillance? —Tal Rosenberg

• That Mexico has won the title of most corrupt country in Latin America for 2013? —Tony Adler

• That a seven-year study of the Chicago River's murky metagenome, including its "dark taxa" (i.e., uncatalogued microbial life forms), is now under way? —Kate Schmidt

• About the chemistry of cookies? —Aimee Levitt

• That the Bears were kicked into first place last night by a 61-yard Baltimore Ravens field goal with 38 seconds left? (The Ravens beat the Lions, 18-16, thanks to Justin Tucker's six field goals; now the Bears make the playoffs for sure if they win their last two games.) —Steve Bogira

• That Shia LaBeouf shamelessly plagiarized a Daniel Clowes comic in his new short film and then shamelessly plagiarized a four-year-old entry on Yahoo! Answers in his Twitter apology? —Gwynedd Stuart

• The diagnosis of the Home Alone burglars' injuries? —Luca Cimarusti

• German producer and Skrillex collaborator Boys Noize on beloved Chicago house label Dance Mania? —Leor Galil