Bob-a-job-alog-a-roonie

eBay have jumped on the micro-lending bandwagon, with new site MicroPlace. You actually receive 2-3% return on your loans, but you must commit to several years, and you are loaning to agencies - whereas Kiva has the feel-good factor of loaning directly to people.

What a great excuse for some science nerds to spend long periods of time in strip joints, and to chat to the strippers!

Geoffrey Miller and his team at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, compared the earnings of lap dancers who were menstruating naturally with those of dancers taking the hormonal contraceptive pill. During the non-fertile periods of their menstrual cycle, both sets of dancers earned similar tips. But when naturally cycling lap dancers entered their fertile period they earned significantly more in tips than their co-workers on the pill.

...But the study does appear to show that the dancers somehow advertise their fertility to men, who then consider them more attractive during this fertile phase, as reflected in their tips. How they advertise, however, and whether they do it consciously, is unclear.