The Original Mecca Gets Wi-Fi in Time for Pilgrims

Considering our previous link to an article on Muslim Science, it is interesting that a networking group, Tropos, based out of California, was allowed to install (or perhaps they sub-contracted to a Saudi group) a wireless network near the holy city.  Certainly a positive sign of religion and technology/science coming together.

MIT Finds Cure for Fear

Fascinating article about work on a drug treatment designed to help individuals overcome persistent fear.  Summed up best in these paragraphs (quoted from the site):

In the current research, genetically engineered mice received mild
foot shocks in a certain environment and were re-exposed to the same
environment without the foot shock.

The team found that mice with increased levels of Cdk5 activity had
more trouble letting go of the memory of the foot shock and continued
to freeze in fear.

The reverse was also true: in mice whose Cdk5 activity was
inhibited, the bad memory of the shocks disappeared when the mice
learned that they no longer needed to fear the environment where the
foot shocks had once occurred.

While learning how best to manage this blog, I am slowly learning how to categorize posts.  This article was a challenge and I believe it ranges across many.  I’ll break it down by the categories I selected (and wonder if this might be a good idea going forward):

Body alteration: Could individuals choose to have a permanent body modification which would render them fearless?  Is there a benefit to this?  If so, what are the possible psychological ramifications?  Is fear a necessary part of our mental balance, to the point that a loss of it might effect along the lines of sleep deprivation?

Conflict: Fearless soldiers?  I can imagine Saddam Hussein would have been more than happy to inhibit fear from his soldiers as U.S. troops approached.  It certainly would have hardened their resistance and kept so many from fleeing.  Though, there would have to be a fine balance.  Too much inhibition and the the fight or flight response fails.  Troops no longer suffer the adrenal edge (though there are plenty of chemicals to replace it) and may even lose a natural, and beneficial, intuition to flee, thus stacking up extra casualties.

Faith: I believe one of the greatest benefits of faith is the support needed to overcome fear and anxiety.  If the doctors can use a chemical “seance” to remove the Devil, what need is there for God?

Healing: Is it possible that AIDS and cancer patient, or any person suffering from a possible terminal disease, immune systems suffer from the ongoing fear of death?  Having never suffered from such illness, I can only imagine there is a massive amount of stress inflicted upon the mind and body.  Is it possible a suppression of fear might allow a greater chance of success in overcoming any disease?

Psychology: I think the article speaks to this directly.

Rest and sleep: Linked in with Healing, might a relief from fear allow certain individuals a better ability to recover or just to sleep?

“Would a cloned human being have a soul?”

Esquire mag has a brief article on whether a cloned human has a soul.  The purpose of this site is not to take sides in a theological debate, but I will forecast a couple things:

1.  There will be some serious religious arguments/persecutions/repercussions throughout this planet.  There may even be some schisms among predominant religions based on whether the cloned do/don’t have a soul.  And “cloned” status will be a concern for privacy rights.

2.  There will be individuals who may, as a result of this argument, believe they only have a partial soul.  Some will attempt to eliminate the competition to guarantee they are the final individual with full “rights” to their soul.

3.  Some shady people will make a lot of money off of individuals who are concerned they are cloned to “read” their soul and tell them whether they are “complete” or “partial”.

The can of worms will be opened and all of them will look the same…