Monkey tabloids and porn

The other day I was waiting in line in the supermarket and picked up what looked like the Swedish version of "People" magazine. It caught my eye because a photo of the princess, who has visited our class several times, was on the cover. Beyond the boredom of waiting in line, I have no idea why I was drawn to that magazine. It was interesting to hear this story on Living on Earth. about how mokeys pay for a chance to look at other monkey celebrities photos (they pay for porn too, but that part I understand.)

Researchers at Duke University have discovered that male rhesus monkeys will give up a portion of their favorite fruit juice to look at images of a female's hindquarters or view socially dominant monkeys - the same way humans pay for a peek.

Neurobiologists offered male rhesus monkeys a choice: take a large portion of cherry juice; or take a smaller portion of cherry juice and get the chance to look at photos of other monkeys.

On average, the monkeys would forego eight to ten percent of their juice allotment if the researchers let them view the faces of powerful males or a female's derriere.

But, the monkeys had to be bribed with larger amounts of juice to get them to stare at subordinate males.