CHAPTER 9 ExperimentsIn the DI section, it was pointed out that Hanso does not concern himself with ethical considerations. Additionally, I believe that all six DI experiments were occurring on the island at one time. So far, I believe that we have seen the results of at least two of the experiments - parapsychology and zoology. I believe that the visions (e.g.; Wlt, Jack's dad, etc.) and the whispers are the result of the parapsychology experiments in conjunction with the electromagnetic energy unique to the island. But how? I think that, through the experiments, somehow the others are now able to communicate telepathically. However, I believe that the electromagnetic energy so enhanced their abilities, they are unable to totally control the telepathy. What we hear as the whispers are the residuals from their telepathic communication.It would be interesting to see how the times when people had visions line up with the 108 minute countdown (i.e.; if the countdown stops some sort of buildup then could the visions be the result of increased energy near the end of the countdown?) One of many possible explanations for the others taking Walt (he is psychic) is that Dharma has dis-owned the island and the people on the island have no way of contacting anyone off the island...oh yeah - the people on the island (who took Walt) desperately want off the island. So, using some of the past island experiments, they are taking children and using some "machine" or process on them to generate these "remote" images with the hopes of contacting someone off the island. Another theory on the whispers. According tohttp://www.reversespeech.com/words_of_creation.htm) the following is the theory of reverse speech: (1) Human speech has two distinctive yet complementary functions and modes. The Overt mode is spoken forwards and is primarily under conscious control. The Covert mode is spoken backward and is not under conscious control. The backward mode of speech occurs simultaneously with the forward mode and is a reversal of the forward speech sounds. (2) These two modes of speech, forward and backward, are dependent upon each other and form an integral part of human communication. One mode cannot be fully understood without the other mode. In the dynamics of interpersonal communication, both modes of speech combined communicate the total psyche of the person, conscious as well as unconscious. (3) Covert speech develops before overt speech.Children speak backwards before they do forwards. Then, as forward speech commences, the two modes of speech gradually combine into one, forming an overall bi-level communication process.So what about zoology? I think that there are three pieces of information pointing to this: (1) the presence of polar bears on the island; (2) Ana calling the others "animals" (although this might have been put into question based on "The Other 48 Days" - my jury is still out on this one); and (3) the recently released information from the Hanso Foundation. Although I do not know what these experiments could have been, I do believe that they had something to do with the sickness. While trying to "better mankind", could Hanso have tried to create a "better kind of man"? Here is an interesting article that houseofsun found:http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/01/0125_050125_chimeras.htmlAnimal-Human Hybrids Spark Controversy Maryann Mott National Geographic News January 25, 2005 Scientists have begun blurring the line between human and animal by producing chimeras?a hybrid creature that's part human, part animal. Chinese scientists at the Shanghai Second Medical University in 2003 successfully fused human cells with rabbit eggs. The embryos were reportedly the first human-animal chimeras successfully created. They were allowed to develop for several days in a laboratory dish before the scientists destroyed the embryos to harvest their stem cells. But creating human-animal chimeras?named after a monster in Greek mythology that had a lion's head, goat's body, and serpent's tail?has raised troubling questions: What new subhuman combination should be produced and for what purpose? At what point would it be considered human? And what rights, if any, should it have? There are currently no U.S. federal laws that address these issues. What's caused the uproar is the mixing of human stem cells with embryonic animals to create new species. David Magnus, director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics at Stanford University, believes the real worry is whether or not chimeras will be put to uses that are problematic, risky, or dangerous. Weissman has already created mice with brains that are about one percent human. Later this year he may conduct another experiment where the mice have 100 percent human brains. "We must be cautious not to violate the integrity of humanity or of animal life over which we have a stewardship responsibility," said Cheshire, a member of Christian Medical and Dental Associations. "Research projects that create human-animal chimeras risk disturbing fragile ecosystems, endanger health, and affront species integrity." So what is this sickness? The best information we have comes from Danielle. Danielle states that her team was there for two months before anyone got sick. She also said that they got sick when they went to the black rock. Does this imply that the only place one can get sick is at the black rock, or by being in contact with someone who has? The Black Rock is the Territoire Fonce (I also believe that the others - the carriers - reside in the TF). I believe that the TF is the repository for the sickness, not the BR. We also know that Montagne (sp?) lost his arm (as did Dr. Candle?). And what about Walt's mom - she got sick and died quite suddenly. Her symptoms included an inability to sleep and flu-like symptoms. Brian also said that she was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder. So how does this fit in with the latest information from Hanso? I have mentioned before in this text that I believe the others try to stay away from open areas and prefer the jungle. Could this be due to increased sensitivity to light? I say this because when researching information on meningococcal diseases (as per the Hanso website), I found the following information: According tohttp://www.unco.edu/shc/meningitis.htm,symptoms of meningococcal disease include a headache, fever, stiff neck, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting, andlight sensitivity. Some people also develop a purplish black-red rash of small dots (petechiae), mainly on their arms and legs. Meningococcal disease can also causeblood infections. Here is some additional information I located: The incubation period of meningococcal disease is short - 3 to 4 days, with a range of 2 to 10 days. Meningococcal disease can have a variety of manifestations. Meningitis is the most common presentation and represents about half of all reported cases of invasive meningococcal disease. Meningeal infection is similar to other forms of acute purulent meningitis, with sudden onset of fever, headache, and stiff neck. Meningococcal sepsis, or meningococcemia may occur without meningitis. This condition is characterized by abrupt onset of fever and a petechial or purpuric rash, often associated with hypotension, shock, acute adrenal hemorrhage, and multiorgan failure Up to 20% of survivors have permanent sequelae, such as hearing loss, neurologic damage, orloss of a limb. www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/pink/mening.pdf As a rule, endemic disease occurs primarily in children and adolescents, with highest attack rates in infants aged 3-12 months, whereas in meningococcal epidemics, rates may rise in older children and young adults. In sub-Saharan Africa, endemic and epidemic disease strikes primarily children and adolescents. In the meningitis belt, the epidemics typically start during the dry season (January-March) and end at the onset of the rainy season (May-June). N. meningitidis is transmitted by aerosol or direct contact with respiratory secretions of patients or healthy human carriers;there is no animal or environmental reservoir for this organism. www.who.int/vaccines/en/meningococcus.shtml I am not concluding that a meningococcal epidemic is the sickness on the island, only noting the similarities. Questions: How is the sickness transmitted (i.e.; what is the vector)? Is Des' medicine a vaccine?