BBC Story

'Altruistic' brain region found

The brain area was more active among the altruistic group

Scientists say they have found the part of the brain that predicts whether a person will be selfish or an altruist.

Altruism - the tendency to help others without obvious benefit to oneself - appears to be linked to an area called the posterior superior temporal sulcus.

Using brain scans, the US investigators found this region related to a person's real-life unselfish behaviour.

The Duke University Medical Center study on 45 volunteers is published in Nature Neuroscience.

The Real Secret of Happiness

It isn't finding treasure, it's giving it.

Too short. I know, however I can't think of a longer way to say it.

Circumnavigation of Anacapa

I've been working on a full account of the Anacapa adventure. Crumpt, Whistlestick, Fripp, Pez and yours truly embarked on a journey to survey arch-tipped island in the California archipelago with unexpected results.

The following factors were involved: A sea witch, Wild Boar wine, something precious overboard, skull-smacked by the ship's boom, unearthly screaming, strange music.

KOOKRIE MK-1

It was kept quiet. The Thaumturgic Cartographers went to Giant Rock and the Integratron for a second time. I just finished a CD of the music and spoken word recordings.

There is a new sister at the Integratron. She kept us out - even though we paid for both days - she kept us out until 4 pm to squeeze any last dollars from tourists wandering in. Then she wanted us out by 11 am the next day. There were new plastic mugs for sale with "Integratron" on them, as well as keychains and pins.

It has changed. We still received a wonderful crystal sound bath by Nancy, but the Integratron as we knew it, may be gone.

Giant Rock and little people, Kookries and aliens will unfold naturally.

Von Riesling Show

I'm testing out Blogger as a tool to publish the Von Riesling Radio Show.