Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Alien hand syndrome

I read a script once - and maybe even saw the rushes - for a short film about a person who receives hands transplanted from a serial killer. The hands grotesquely seem to have a mind/life of their own and start to drive the unwitting recipient to commit murders. So it was intriguing to read today about something called Alien Hand
Syndrome. It would not be a good thing to have - although for the first while it could be intriguing, unpredictable and perhaps even just a little fun (amazing how attractive the "other" can seem). So what is Alien Hand Syndrome? Well, it's where one of your hands can have a mind/life of its own so you can wake up in the morning to find your Alien Hand throttling you. [Is it possible to strangle a person with only one hand? The question was raised in "To Kill A Mockingbird" when Tom - with only one good arm - is accused of rape and assault including trying to strangle a girl - and the lack of two good arms is raised as a defence of sorts (not successful).] But where was I? Alien Hand doing things by itself ... even trying to stop your other "good" hand from doing what you want it to do. Don't believe me? Check it out at the
www.howstuffworks.com website.

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