“with nothing to return to but the demons in their caves”

Today’s Topic:  316

Mood Music: Prince Caspian by Phish

Well.  I think we can all agree that the possibility of every episode this season surpassing the previous one in quality is quite likely.  316 was no exception.  The creators manage to feed us answers in tiny bites while still delivering things that make us question what’s going on.  The brilliant thing about this episode and the direction of this season is that it appears we will be moving back into the standard episode structure from season 1.  On-Island stuff will be the continuous storyline while anything off-island will be shown as flashbacks or flashforwards.  Damn that shit’s exciting…..

and now…..Season 5, Episode 6……..316:

ON-ISLAND

Unknown Time Period

Opens with a shot of Jack’s eye and he’s lying in the jungle dazed and disoriented. 

*let me just say that as soon as I saw this opening scene I immediately realized that it was a shout-out to all the fans that thought the series might end at the very same spot it started….with Jack waking up in the jungle after the plane crash.  For a split second….I thought this might be that scene, but then realized that the area, and suit weren’t quite the same….still….great way to dispel (for now at least) the notion that this is the way the show would end

Jack’s holding a torn piece of paper that says, “I wish”.  He hears Hurley screaming in the distance and he drops the paper and runs to find him.  Jack sees Hurley struggling in the water below as he reaches the waterfall and dives into the pond after him.  Hurley is using a guitar case to keep himself above water.  They both see that Kate is lying over to the side unconscious.  Jack goes over and helps to bring her back.  She asks if they are back on the island and he says yes.  None of them actually remember crashing and they wonder where Ben, Sayid, Sun, and any other survivors might be. 

Jack suggests that they split up, but before they get that chance a new looking Dharma van pulls up blaring music and JIN steps out pointing a rifle at them…..and…..

LOST

OFF-ISLAND

2008 – 46 hours earlier

Eloise takes Ben, Jack, Sun and Desmond into the basement of the church.  She opens a blast door (proving that this is indeed an off-island Dharma station) and inside there’s a large pendulum (seen in the first episode this season) swinging over a map and a bunch of computers.  She lets them know it’s a Dharma station called “the Lamp Post” and it’s how Dharma found the island.

*the Lamp Post is a reference to the signal marker in CS Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia — in the stories it helped the children find their way from the “real” world to Narnia and back again.

She explains to them that the Lamp Post was created years ago over a pocket of electromagnetic energy and that it connected with similar pockets all around the world.  The group that built it knew about the island but not where it was.  It was always “moving”, which is the reason Eloise explains, they were never rescued.  They began trying to determine where the island “would be” not where it was. 

Jack notices a photograph in the room of the island that’s labeled 9/23/54 - US Army – OP 264 – Top Secret – Eyes Only

*some of the on-island stuff in the Jughead episode took place somewhere right around that date previously this season….the date is also 1 day shy of 50 years (exactly) before the crash of 815….hmmmmm. 

Desmond delivers Daniel’s message to Eloise that the people on the island need their help.  He is bound and determined to leave after this and tells the rest of the group that Ben and Eloise are playing a game with them.  Eloise tells him that the island’s not done with him, but he assures her that he’s done with the island.

She informs Jack that the Aljira Airlines Flight 316 to Guam will pass over the island’s location and that they need to be on that flight.

She meets with Jack alone in an office that looks very similar to the one that housed the monk in the Season 3 Episode…Catch-22.

*there’s also a larger version of the Virgin Mary statue that held “Charlie’s” heroine in Season 1 and 2

There she gives Jack a suicide note from Locke.  Eloise tells Jack that they must recreate as close as possible the original Flight 815.  Locke’s body will serve as a proxy for his father’s body on the original flight and she tells Jack that he must incorporate something of his father’s with Locke’s body.  Jack thinks it’s crazy but Hawking tells him that’s why it’s a leap of faith.

*not the first time that Jack’s heard ye ole’ Leap of Faith comment.  He and Locke have fought over the science vs. faith thing since the beginning.  Jack being the more pragmatic (science fearing) man….and Locke….the follower of faith, or fate, or destiny, or, …you get the point

Later, Jack approaches Ben in the main hall of the church.  There’s a large painting behind him.  The painting is The Incredulity of Saint Thomas by Caravaggio.  Ben tells Jack the story of Thomas the Apostle.  He notes that Thomas was best remembered for his doubt rather than his bravery.  He needed to see Christ’s wounds before he would believe that it was truly him, risen from the dead.

*I didn’t think of this upon watching, but now I realize that this is probably foreshadowing for a very meaningful reunion between Jack and Locke….showing that Jack will probably ask for more than just Locke’s word to believe how he’s still alive on the island

Ben leaves and Jack asks where he’s going.  He tells him that he made a promise to an old friend.

Later, Jack’s sitting in a bar and he receives a phone call.

*I honestly had no idea who it could possibly be at this point in the show

It’s a call from an assisted living facility and the member in question has been trying to run away.  They tell him that if it happens again the person in question will have to be transferred.  In a room in the facility (a room where a magician — another link to CS Lewis — the Magician’s Nephew (book 4 in the Narnia series…I think) – is working with a white rabbit with black around the eyes…we’ve not seen that before, huh), Jack meets a man named Ray, his grandfather.  Ray attempted to run away….even had his suitcase packed.  As Jack unpacks his grandad’s suitcase he comes across a pair of his father’s shoes.  Ray tells him that his mom, Margo, (shout out to my sis…yo) sent the shoes and he allows Jack to take them.

When Jack returns home he pours a drink, but before he can partake, he hears a suspicious noise in the house.  Kate is lying on his bed and she tells him not to ever ask her about Aaron again before laying one on his ass.

*let me just say that this was the most passionate kiss that I’ve seen on Lost and probably the most passionate on TV (other than your Skin-emax, Playboy, etc….channels) in a while.

The next morning, over coffee and OJ, Jack tells Kate how he put white tennis shoes on his father’s body before the flight from Australia.

*this is a pretty big reveal considering the fact that we’ve seen Christian in the suit and white shoes outfit on more than one occasion.  It always made people wonder.  Now you know.

The phone rings and Kate leaves.  She tells Jack she’ll meet him at the airport.

Ben is on the phone.  He is drenched and all bloodied up.  He tells Jack that he will have to get Locke’s body from Simon’s Butcher Shop because he’s been sidetracked.  Jack goes to the butcher shop and Jill takes him to the meat locker to get the body.  Inside, Jack puts his father’s shoes on Locke and places the suicide note inside before closing the lid.

As Jack makes arrangements at the airport, he sees Kate arrive in large sunglasses with her head down. 

*at first I thought that she was just channeling Charlie with the shades, but I’ve now realized that, although that might be part of it, she’s also probably trying to disguise herself because she’s a fugitive again

 He makes his way through the airport and is given condolences by a stranger before running into Sun who says that she is going back to the island if there’s a chance Jin’s still alive.  They head to gate 15 and see Sayid being escorted onto the plane in handcuffs.  At the gate, Hurley, appearing anxious, is carrying a guitar case and he informs the Aljira employee that he’s purchased the remaining 78 seats aboard the flight.

*Hurley, always looking out for others, just a cool way to show what an altruistic person he really is…meaning, he knew the plane was possibly going to crash so this kept any “innocent bystanders” from getting involved…other than the Marshal and strange dude behind Jack (credited as Caesar I believe) who are bound to play a role in future episodes I’m guessin’

Jack asks Hurley how he knew and he responds that he’s here.

On the plane, Ben shows up at the last minute with his boarding pass…and his arm’s in a sling.  Hurley is not happy but Jack reassures him.  As he takes his seat, a flight attendant gives a note to Jack that was found in the cargo hold.  It’s Locke’s suicide note that Jack never opened and placed in the coffin.  Once the fasten seatbelts sign goes off, Jack moves up to talk to Kate.  She really doesn’t want to chat and they hear that the pilot is Frank Lapidus.  Jack tells the flight attendant that he wants to speak with Lapidus.  Frank, looking very clean shaven, comes out and notices that Jack, Hurley, Sun, Kate, Sayid, and Ben are all on the plane and realizes that they aren’t going to Guam.

Nighttime on the plane.  Ben is reading Ulysses.  Jack asks how he can read and Ben sarcastically answers that his mother taught him.

*what an interesting line….is he just being funny?….we know that his Mom died giving birth to him so this is a blatant lie….but why lie?…..maybe he’s just tired of being questioned

He says it’s better than waiting for something to happen.  Jack tells him about the note and Ben tells him to read it and gives him privacy, getting up to go to the bathroom.  Jack opens the note and it says, “I wish you had believed me” and it was signed, “JL”. 

*an interesting note on the 316 thing…..notice that Locke says “believed me”….is this a direct reference to the bible verse?  “whosoever believeth in him shall not perish” … maybe that’s why Alpert can’t die…..just a thought.

Shortly after reading, the plane hits some turbulence and then the plane is engulfed in the white light that’s identical to the light that accompanied the time flashes on the island this season. 

Tidbits and Questions

316

- there was much speculation regarding the meaning of this episodes’ title….the most obvious answer is that it was the Flight # of the Aljira flight that got the O5 back (no Aaron)

- another possibility (and my favorite) is that it refers to the Bible verse, John 3:16 -

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

which makes even more sense in a John Locke being a Christ figure sort of way after Jack is portrayed as a possible Doubting Thomas figure.  Who has he doubted?  Locke of course.

- if you take the number of passengers on flight 815 (324) minus the number of passengers on flight 316 (8) you get….316

- the episode aired on 2/18, which means there are 316 days left in the year…yowsa

- there are plenty of Oceanic tidbits throughout including a plane in the background when they’re taking off and a poster in the airport

- speaking of Oceanic…for those that were trying to assemble the “clues” about who was representing whom on the Aljira flight regarding 815’s recreation…..here’s what I got:

- Kate wearing the large sunglasses – Charlie

- Hurley reading another comic book and carrying a guitar – Charlie

- Sayid brought on as a prisoner – Kate

- Ben barely getting on the plane in time – Hurley

- Ben getting up to move in the plane as the crash occurs – Charlie

- Locke’s dead body – Christian Shephard

- Sun holding Jin’s ring – Rose

let me  know if y’all think of any more

- The Dharma logo on Jin’s jumpsuit resembles a Sheriff’s badge star…huh.

- In Stephen King’s book, the Langoliers, an airplane that takes of from LA travels through a time warp leaving only a few survivors as the rest disappear.  For the survivors to travel through the warp back to their own time, they must recreate several key conditions of the first pass through the window

and finally, one more reference to the Chronicles of Narnia:

-in the book Prince Caspian, the first thing the children do upon returning to Narnia is play in the water…hi-yo!!!

Quotes

 ”this is how they found the island” – Eloise Hawking

“you’re all going back to the island…willingly?” – Desmond

“you say the island’s not done with me…well I’m done with the island” – Desmond

“that’s why it’s called a Leap of Faith Jack” – Eloise Hawking

“let us also go so that we might die with him” – Ben

“we’re all convinced sooner or later Jack” – Ben

“we’re not going to Guam, are we?” – Lapidus

and last but not least…

what an unbelievable episode…could Jack’s granddad Ray be Jacob?  Completing the lineage from him to Christian to Claire to Aaron?  interesting thought.

Can’t wait to see Bentham’s story next week….will Locke be a “Christ” figure, and Jack the Doubting Thomas?  We’ll just have to see.

I’ll talk at you all again later.

“and the children in the fields all sowing seed and chaffing wheat”

“like a deer in the headlights, frozen in real time…I’m losing my mind”

Today’s Topic:  UGA Basketball might be the worst team I’ve ever seen…in any sport

Mood Music: Time to Move On by Tom Petty

LANGUAGE ALERT……THIS POST WILL CONTAIN FOUL LANGUAGE!!!

I know most of you don’t give a rat’s ass about Georgia basketball, but I’m a UGA fan, and I’d like to be able to pull for the basketball team….especially on the one day during the season that they actually get a game on TV.  (ok, maybe there was one other televised game, and I missed it….of course it was the win against Florida…their ONLY win in the SEC). 

It’s hard to express the mediocrity of Bulldog basketball and although I shouldn’t care, watching a team that inept, really, really pisses me off.  I mean, how in the world does a school with the alumni support of UGA (not to mention the in-state talent) field a basketball team that would have been challenged by the St. Thaddeus youth teams of the early 90’s.  (for those that don’t know, that was my church league basketball team growing up…we beat 2nd Baptist for the Championship one year….HUGE upset…HUGE..but that’s for another time)  I’ll give y’all a little teaser for that upcoming story.  I started a fight in the “good-game” line with this guy (#58):

Now you all see who you’re dealing with on the other side of this blog.  Yowsa.  Back to UGA basketball (seems boring now huh?).

So, today I decided that I’d watch the game between Georgia and Ole Miss.  I actually DVR’d it and watched it after it had already concluded (which usually means that things went terribly wrong if I haven’t received a phone call…when your school team is as bad as UGA is this year it’s a big deal to actually win A game.  My friend…y’all know him as Allen…would’ve called had UGA won…so, sans call, I watched the taped game about 99% sure of the result…boy was I correct)

I’d like to pose a 2 part question to any UGA fans, or SEC basketball fans (all 4 of you…maybe that’s generous) and that question goes something like:

1) Did I dream this or has UGA actually hired a search firm to hire a basketball coach when Bob Knight is interested and the team right now looks like FUCKING DOGSHIT!!! (actually, that’s being generous)

2) Where in the hell did Dennis Felton recruit these players?  Seriously.  (for those of you that don’t like people like me…armchair QB’s basically…talking shit about 18 -21 year old college athletes, you might wanna skip this paragraph..I’m sure they’re nice guys, but basketball players they ain’t)  Jeremy Price and Trey Thompkins are the 2 best big men that he recruited during his tenure at UGA.  Holy effin’ shit!!!!  I’ve been watching Price since he got to UGA last year (which we’ve established is not much) and I’ve never seen a 6-8 250+ man play like such a pussy in my life.  No shit.  Sorry dude, but you’re 264 lbs……go at the rim like an effin’ madman….play with some damn force….there are not many guys on the court that are bigger..wait..heavier than you.  And Trey Thompkins (who was supposedly a STUD recruit this year, take into consideration that means ‘great’ by UGA standards…we’re not talking Carolina, Duke, UConn worthy)…Trey plays like he thinks he’s as good as he isn’t.  Confused.  Me too.  I mean, I watched Trey play today and he shot 3 pointers…and missed, he attempted layups, and missed, he shot from 10ish feet, and missed, he…..you get the point.  On top of that, he pulled down … oh wait, he actually had 10 rebounds.  Maybe he is worth a shit.  Even a blind dog finds a bone if he digs enough holes (Dollhouse anyone?)  6 points and 10 rebounds for the phenom.  Ok, so he’s only a phenom in his head (or at least he appears to think so…what in the hell is he doing taking 3 pointers anyway?).  The aforementioned Price…0 points and 1 rebound in 10 minutes….awesome, awesome performance. 

Wait, there was a bright spot….Terrance Woodbury had 19 points….oh, yeah, he’s a senior (was HE even actually recruited by Felton?). 

Folks, the Dawgs lost to Ole Miss (a 15-11 team that’s 6-6 in the SEC…which might field the worst crop of conference basketball teams in history…with UGA bringing up up the rear.  Wow.) by 22 points.  They lost by 22 to a shitty team.  (and from what I saw, the future looks pretty damn bleak if you’re talking about the young players on the Dawgs’ roster…not to  mention losing Woodbury and cornerstones Albert Jackson and Corey Butler…ok, I’m being sarcastic, but they actually do seem like nice guys)

What this team needs, and the University, and the fans, and the WOW supporters, and the country, and …. ok, maybe not the country, but the state of Georgia (at least) is……….

Bobby Knight.  It’s a no-effin’ brainer….I mean, honest to God, there is no effin’ way it can get any worse.  Unfortunately, I’ve got a feeling that ”Adams the arrogant” and ”Evans the equivocal”  feel like they’ve gotta have the “Perfect” man for the job.  Dudes, I’m here to tell you….a rampaging chimpanzee could do a better job than Felton (ok, sorry, that was over the line, damn you New York Post!!!).  Seriously, though, Georgia doesn’t need the “perfect” coach….just someone with a proven track record that can garner some respect for a University that lost by 22 to Ole effin’ Miss today.  Oh, huh, you don’t say?  Bobby Knight is available…and interested?  Well, by all means….oh, wait….our standards are “just” a little higher than the ALL-TIME WINNINGEST COACH IN NCAA HISTORY!!!

Maybe UGA will get a guy that can recruit 265 lb. players who can score “1″ point and get “2″ rebounds.  That would be 1 pound bigger, 1 point better, and 1 rebound more than the 2nd ”best” big man Felton recruited in 5 years.  The best?  Well, he’s probably out right now admiring his own plummeting jumpshot….what an oxy-”moron”.

Hallelujah, Holy Shit…..where’s the tylenol!!!!

I’ll talk at you all again later.

“it’s time to move on, time to get going, what lies ahead I have no way of knowing”

“quickly, quickly, the blood races through my veins”

Today’s Topic:  This Place is Death

Mood Music:  Wishing Well by Terence Trent D’arby

Man.  I’m gonna go out on a limb and argue that this might have been the greatest episode of Lost EVER.  No shit.  I’m not even gonna get into the amount of revelations that were dropped…just that there was something about the way this episode was shot that really, really resonated with me…especially the scenes with Jin and the Frenchies (possible band name…anyone?).  Some of you might have thought the pacing was a little slow at the beginning of the episode, but I thought that subtle scenes, like Jin drinking water from a leaf, added to the strange sense of discovery that emanated from this episode…almost like seeing the island again…for the first time…huh.

so, without further ado….Season 5, Episode 5……..This Place is Death:   

ON-ISLAND

November 18, 1988 (Jin and the Frenchies)

Jin is obviously wondering what’s happened to the rest of the Losties (especially Sun) as we see Montand listening to a radio.  The voice on the radio (which happens to be Hurley’s…at least, that’s who it sounds like) is repeating the numbers (for those that don’t know….you probably aren’t reading this but the #’s are: 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42) 

***This is an extremely wacky discovery since the #’s are what drove Hurley to the island in the first place.  He believes that they are cursed.  Wow. 

Danielle tells Jin that they left from Tahiti on Nov. 15th, 1988.  Jin, obviously in shock because of the “time” issue, decides to run off and find his friends…or the camp….or I think he’s probably in shock to be honest, because the camp shouldn’t exist in 88′.  He mentions a helicopter to the group and Montand concludes that he’s mentioned a boat, a helicopter, and the next thing will be a submarine.  

***Nice little shot by the writers to remind us of the Others Sub

 The “Frenchies” talk Jin into accompanying them to the radio tower to find the source of the signal and then he can find his way to the beach from there.  He agrees and tells Danielle that he’s hoping to find his wife.

While walking through the jungle, Danielle pauses as “Alexandra” gives her a little kick.  She and Robert flirt about the name of the baby.  She thinks it’s a girl and he thinks it’s a boy, “Alexander”.  Jin is shown listening to their conversation and I believe that little shots like that are what make this episode so great. 

***We know that he probably can’t understand anything they’re saying, but he must hear the baby names.  How strange would it be to watch that exchange knowing that you’ve met Danielle’s baby, Alex, as a 16 year old girl.  Whoa. 

One of “the Frenchies”, Nadine, is nowhere to be found and as they begin to hear noises in the distance, they ask Jin what it is….and he responds, “Monster.”

A tree is ripped out of the ground and Nadine’s body falls to the ground, dead.  They all run as the smoke monster makes its way through the trees.  Montand is grabbed and dragged through the woods and down a shaft under some ruins that are covered with hieroglyphics.  As they try and pull Montand out, his arm is torn completely off.

***talk about a SWEET, SWEET scene….and gory too!!!  By the way, this ties into what Danielle talked about in Season 1 as Montand loses his arm

 They hear him calling for help as his arm lies on the ground beside them.  Everyone enters the hole trying to save him, but Jin makes sure that Danielle stays out.  He’s concerned about her baby….and then……flash…..Jin experiences a time-flash (which answers the question as to whether or not he’s been flashing with the other “losties”)

January 1989 (Jin and the Frenchies)

The flash places Jin a couple months into the future.  He stumbles over the severed arm that’s now starting to rot.  He sees a pillar of smoke in the distance and goes to the beach.  On the beach he finds a music box (which happens to be the one that Sayid fixes for Danielle in Season 1) and then the dead bodies of 2 of “the Frenchies”, Lacombe and Brennan.  They have been shot in the chest and then Jin hears an argument between Danielle and Robert.  She believes that he’s crazy because of the monster.  He says that the Smoke Monster was actually a “security system for the temple”.  He then tells her he loves her before trying to shoot her.  The gun just clicks and Danielle shoots her husband. 

***remember in Season 1, she removed the firing pin on Robert’s gun when Sayid tried to use it

  She sees Jin and believes that he was the carrier of the sickness as he disappeared in front of her.  She fires at him but he flashes again…

 Unknown Time Period – 1 – (Jin and the Time Travelers…better band name and no more Frenchies from here on out)

Jin is ordered to turn around as a gun is cocked.  He turns and sees that it is Sawyer.  Sawyer is genuinely thrilled to see Jin, but Jin notices that Sun is not among the group of Losties that he has encountered.  We learn that Charlotte can speak Korean and she translates for Jin as they explain what’s going on.  They move towards the Orchid Station and….

FLASH

Unknown Time Period – 2

They appear on the path in the dark and before they can recover… 

FLASH

Unknown Time Period – 3

Now daylight, still on the path, Charlotte collapses and begins to speak incoherently and partially in Korean.  Sawyer and Juliet develop nosebleeds.  Charlotte tells Jin in Korean that he can’t bring Sun back and in a James Bond moment, tells him that “This Place is Death”.  She also speaks as if she’s a little girl again, asking, “why can’t Daddy come with us?”…and saying, “you know what my Mother would say about me marrying an American” and “I know more about ancient Carthage than Hannibal himself”.  and….

FLASH

Unknown Time Period – 4

Daniel wants help carrying Charlotte to the Orchid, but the others think it will just slow them down.  He decides to stay with her as the rest continue on.  Charlotte tells Locke to look for “the well” as a way to find the Orchid.  The group comes upon the Orchid (looking dilipated, which probably places it well after the Dharma Initiative).  Juliet mentions that they are lucky to find it  and….

FLASH

Unknown Time Period – 5

Sawyer snaps at Juliet for saying anything.  The Orchid is gone, but they find “the Well” that Charlotte mentioned.  Locke decides to climb down a rope leading into the well and Juliet thanks him whether or not he ends up helping.  Jin makes Locke promise that he won’t bring sun back.  He gives Locke his wedding ring and tells him to say that he washed up on the beach, dead.  Locke agrees and starts down the rope.  As it gets about halfway down the light starts to brighten, the rope is severed and Locke falls as….

FLASH

Unknown Time Period – 6

Sawyer is seen holding onto the rope that now disappears into the ground.  The well is gone.  Sawyer (once again showing his compassion and desire to help his friends) claws at the dirt trying to start digging him out.  Juliet stops him and it cuts to Daniel and Charlotte…

In a HUGE reveal, Charlotte tells Daniel that she grew up on the island as a daughter of 2 Dharma parents.  She says that she left the island with her mother and moved to England without her father (who she never saw again).  Her mother tried to convince her that she had imagined the island, but she devoted her life to finding the island again.  She says that it’s the reason she became an anthropologist.  Finally, she tells Daniel that she remembered a crazy man coming to her and warning her not to come back to the island.  She tells Daniel that she believes HE was that man!!!  Moments later, she dies.

Locke, with his bone now sticking out of his leg, is lying in the bottom of a cavern below the well.  He hears someone coming and Christian Shephard appears.  He tells Locke that HE was supposed to turn the wheel, not Ben.  He says that he needs to find everyone off the island and take them to Eloise Hawking.  Locke mentions that Alpert told him he must die, and Christian responds that it’s why they call it sacrifice.  He tells Locke that the wheel has slipped off its axis and must be set back into place.  He can’t help Locke up, and as he struggles to get the wheel aligned, Christian tells him to say hello to his son.  Locke sets the wheel back on its axis and the light starts to become brighter.  As Locke begins to ask who his son is….

FLASH

OFF-ISLAND – 2008

Sun is still in the car at the marina.  She gets on the phone with Ji Yeon and tells her about a new friend, Aaron.  She mentions that she must finish her work and then she’ll be coming back.  She gets out of the car and points the gun at Ben. 

Kate freaks out and goes to the car to get Aaron.  Sun blames Ben for Jin’s death, but Ben assures her that Jin is still alive, and he says he can prove it.  Sayid and Kate leave pissed.  Sayid doesn’t want to ever see Ben or Jack again and threatens them.  Kate believes that Jack pretended to care about Aaron to try and get her to go back to the island.  As they leave, Ben convinces Sun to ride with him (30 minutes) to a place where he can prove that Jin’s still alive.  In the ride over, Sun starts to get pissed at the length, Jack says that after what he Ben did to Kate, he’ll kill him…..Ben (with one of the greatest reactions ever on the show) basically tells Sun to shoot him if she’s going to.  He says that they have no idea what he’s gone through to keep them safe. 

They get to the church and Ben gives Sun Jin’s wedding ring.  He says that he went to see Locke and then they run into Desmond.  He asks if they are going to see Faraday’s Mom (which really throws Ben a loop).  they enter the church and there is Eloise Hawking (now proven to be Faraday’s Mom?)  Ben says that he couldn’t get everyone and she says that they need to get started…and

LOST

Tidbits and Questions

***there was a boat with the name “Illusion” in the background of the marina scene

***If the wheel being off its axis was causing the island to flash, why then do the O6 still need to return if Locke has now fixed that problem?  My guess is that they don’t.  It’s just the island’s way of course correcting.  Or maybe, just maybe, they are still being manipulated by Ben so that he can get what he wants.

***Looks like Locke’s still just a pawn

***How did Charlotte know about the Well?

***I feel pretty certain that we’ll see Charlotte, as a little girl, repeating a few of the quotes from this episode.

***Since Christian Shephard asked Locke to say hello to his son, does that mean that it’s really Christian that appears to Locke….or is he a manifestation of the island…or is he a spirit…or….Jeez.

***by the way, what does Christian have against Ben….sure seems that he doesn’t like him at all

***We now know that Charlotte grew up on the island, Hawking is Faraday’s Mom, Faraday was on the island at another time when Charlotte was young, why Charlotte was in Tunisia looking at the Dharma collar on the skeletal remains of the polar bear, why Rousseau’s crew got sick and why she killed them, how Montand lost his arm, possibly where “Smokey” resides, Jin has been moving with the others as the time flashes occur, why the flashes were happening…and I’m sure I’m leaving stuff out but damn they aren’t cutting any corners are they?

***so, with Charlotte mentioning chocolate, and Ben’s childhood friend, Annie’s gift of chocolate to Ben, does that mean that Charlotte might be Annie?  Personally, I don’t think the ages will match up, but you never know

***Finally, for all of you that get into the deeper aspects of Lost, make sure to check out Doc Jensens’ articles every week at Entertainment Weekly’s website.  The link below should take you to his most recent post.  Let me just say that some of the connections he makes will absolutely blow your effin’ mind…..

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1550612_20245769_20258523,00.html

Quotes

 ”He’s Korean, I’m from Encino” – Miles to Sawyer about Jin

“You speak any other languages?” (Faraday to Charlotte)

“Just Klingon.”  (Charlotte to Faraday)

“you wanna shoot me, then shoot me, but let’s get on with it” – Ben to Sun

“what are the odds that we would end up at the same time as this thing?” (Juliet to all)

“just had to say something.” (Sawyer to Juliet after they flash and the Orchid is gone)

“expectin’ a subway?” – Sawyer to Locke

 and last but not least…

sorry for such a long one today, but like I said at the beginning, I believe this might be the best episode ever.  There was a lot to cover.  I don’t think it’s even a question if you’re simply looking at the amount of answers that we were given.  The cinematography was also brilliant and I love the way that they seem to be making the flashes much more elaborate by the end of the episode.  All in all, it makes me anxious to see what happens next and impatient for the next episode, and that’s when Lost is at its best.

I’ll talk at you all again later.

 

“but surely, your appetite is more than I knew”   

 

 

 

 

“i can’t hold back, i won’t back down”

Today’s Topic:  Paul Blart:  Mall Cop breaks the $100 million mark

Mood Music:  I Can’t Hold Back by Survivor (from the PBMC soundtrack)

Folks, this blog’s gonna be short and sweet.  (I’ll have the Wow Lost in Review of last week’s episode, “This Place is Death” for you tomorrow)

I just wanted to let you all know that the movie, Paul Blart: Mall Cop topped the $100 million box office gross mark after this past weekend. (after being out for 5 weeks)  It’s the top grossing movie of 2009 by $32 mil over Taken.  Hotel for Dogs (jeeezus) is next and it’s made almost $51 mil less than PBMC (it IS only February but yowsa).  I know that some of you are not very shocked that the movie’s doing well.  Really?  You should be ashamed of yourselves, seriously….now…I’m not knocking Kevin James (who is unbelievably funny on the King of Queens…and who pretty much carried…if you can consider it “carrying” the movie Hitch).  Kevin, you’re a funny dude.  Let me throw a few numbers at you all to put this in perspective:

Slumdog Millionaire – $88.1 million (gross to date) – 14 weeks in release

 The Curious Case of Ben. Button – $122.5 mil – 8 weeks in release

Milk - $26.7 mil – 12 weeks in release

The Reader – $19.4 mil – 10 weeks in release

Frost/Nixon – $16.5 mil – 11 weeks in release 

Those are your nominees for best picture at this year’s Oscars folks.  Again I say, Yowsa!!!  At least ole’ Ben Button’s holdin’ its own (with about a month head start).

DON’T LOOK NOW BUTTON, BUT I THINK BART’S CLOSIN’ IN ON YOUR ASS!

Hey.  I am NOT a movie snob by any means.  (and I haven’t seen PBMC, therefore I’m not actually criticizing the movie, just moviegoers…it might be the funniest movie of all-time….let me just stress the fact that I find that highly unlikely…although I am a huge fan of Deuce Bigalow, so….)

All I can say is….thank God Kevin James is finally getting his due.  (by the way, Friday the 13th grossed $42.2 million this past weekend…now that’s what I call smart patrons!!!)  I’ll leave you all with one more riveting screen shot from the Breakout film of 2009!!!

I’ll talk at you all again later.  (I believe that I was channeling KJ with the stache’.)

“and I feel the hand of fate reaching out to both of us”

“taxi dancers and big time spenders….she’s been groovin’”

Today’s Topic:  Top Ten Greatest SI Swimsuit Models

Mood Music:  Red Hot Mama by Funkadelic

Did I promise?  Yeah, I did.  I promised that I’d give you my Top 10 Sports Illustrated swimsuit models of all-time, so here goes (and I’ll try and include what I believe to be their “best” all-time shot):

10) Cindy Crawford

Well.  What can I say?  Does anyone out there think that there’s a more recognizable “mole” in history?  From the Pepsi commercials, to the modeling shots, her relationship with the actor, Richard Gere, to her horrible acting in the God-awful movie, “Fair Game” (anyone…ok, any guy that’s even remotely close to my age, that would be 31, has probably seen this movie for Crawford alone…a Baldwin was involved, I’m just not sure which one) Cindy Crawford was (and possibly still is, haven’t heard from or seen her in awhile) one of the hottest women of all-time. 

9) Niki Taylor

Niki Taylor.  Maybe the 2nd most famous “mole” in history.  One of the original supermodels, Taylor appeared on the 1998 cover of the SI Swimsuit Edition (from now on I’ll be calling this SISE).  I have to say that, despite the fact that Crawford was unbelievably attractive, Niki did a little more for me.  Just a cute, cute girl.  Stunning.

Christie Brinkley

Holiday Ro-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-a-oad!  2 blogs in a row and Christie Brinkley is mentioned.  Just one of the prettiest women ever.  Billy Joel was lucky (for awhile), and that d-bag of a husband that cheated on her with his…well….does it really matter….I mean, you’re married to Christie Brinkley dude…Christie Brinkley.  An all-time fav of SISE who appeared on 3 covers in the 70’s and 80’s (my God I feel old-ish).  Beautiful!

7) Elsa Benitez

Quite possibly the greatest SISE cover of all-time.  Just effin’ breathtaking to be honest.  I have no idea what Elsa is doing now, or to be honest, since this pic, but it’s that good to place her inside the top 10.  Hailing from Mexico (born in 1977…not a bad year if I do say so myself), Elsa graced the SISE cover in 2001 and we can all see the results.  Here’s an interesting note about Elsa…..she was married to Rony Seikaly….you mean the former Miami Heat, Syracuse Orangemen….yes….that Rony Seikaly.  They divorced in 2005.  Dude, you and Christie Brinkley’s ex need to get together and talk.  What the hell. 

6) Cheryl Tiegs

Man, just another natural beauty.  Tiegs was on the SISE cover 3 times.  1970, 1975, and 1983.  One of her most famous photos (not my favorite, but you’ve probably all seen it…she’s in white, the suit is basically transparent) caused such a stir as she came up out of the water that photographers shot for almost 50 minutes.  Tiegs has been on TV and in a few movies, and is still strikingly beautiful.

5) Kathy Ireland 

Can we all just forget about National Lampoon’s Loaded Weapon?  What ye ole’ National Lampoon did for Christie Brinkley with Vacation, let’s just say the opposite occurred with Ireland.  (I’m ashamed to say it, but the movie has a few funny parts…at least they were in 1993)  Despite that, Ireland is probably the 2nd most recognized SISE model of all-time.  On the cover 3 times (1989, 1992, and 1994) she tied with Christie Brinkley and Cheryl Tiegs with the 2nd most covers ever.  Just a really uniquely beautiful woman.

4) Marisa Miller

Oh, Marisa.  What else can I say?  Told by her mother that “you can always go back to school, but you can’t always be a model”, Marisa took those words to heart.  Thanks Mom.  Gracing the 2008 SISE cover to record setting numbers, Marisa seems to still be going strong.  Nice.

3) Heidi Klum

This is what a beautiful woman looks like before Project Runway and a marriage to Seal.  Ok, she’s still ridiculously good looking, but it’s easy to forget about the bombshell that appeared on this career forging cover of SISE.  She became the “body painting” model of choice for years after that and has made quite a career for herself…I just prefer the still shots. 

2) Stacey Williams

Everybody’s got their favorite right?  Well, mine’s gotta be Stacey Williams.  Just an all-around gorgeous woman.  I felt like she was in every issue from my high school years through college.  Ok, she appeared from 91′ to 98′ but I was close.   A SISE Hall-of-Famer that looks effin’ great in every shot I’ve ever seen.  She was the underdog.  While some other women got all the accolades, from Cindy, to Niki, Kathy to well…..you’ll see, Stacey was the most consistent and I appreciated it.  Plus, she was born on April 15…and all you Lost fans know what that means….well, actually, we don’t know yet, but I’m sure the Numbers will amount to something…eventually.

AND LAST BUT DEFINITELY NOT LEAST….

1) ELLE MACPHERSON

Elle “the Body” Macpherson.  What can you say?  Just an impeccably professional model.  With a great damn name.  Right?  Seriously, though, she was the best.  I remember having dozens of pictures of her on my walls in middle school, high school, college, ok….a minor obsession, sue me.  anyway, she’s become a good actress, a successful businesswoman, and most of all, she’s still pretty damn hot at 44 (wow that’s scary).  Not to mention the record 5 SISE covers.  Here’s to you Elle!!!

Alright folks, that’s it for ye ole’ Top 10 SISE models.  Let me know who I forgot or who you think should be on or off the list.  I wanted to give a brief disclaimer about the Elle pics in my room…..I actually thought it was cool when I was younger to cut out pictures from the SISE and tape them on the walls of my bedroom.  Funny thing is, after about 4 or so years of doing it, my walls were covered and I realized that it looked a little obsessive.  Nonetheless, those pictures are engrained in my memory and to this day, if I see one, I will instantly recognize it as a pic from one of those years.  Strange.  Yes.  Fun at the time.  Absolutely.  One last thing…as I’m writing this, 2009 SISE cover model, Bar Rafaeli is on David Letterman.  Kinda weird.

I’ll leave you all with a few Honorable Mentions and a couple classic pics that didn’t make the cut:

Ashley Richardson

Julie Henderson

Veronica Varekova

Petra Nemcova

Elle and Kathy

and finally, the 2009 SISE cover model…..

Bar Rafaeli (who’s dating Leonardo DiCaprio….Jesus)

I’ll talk at you all again later.

“ride on red hot mama girl, sure looks good to me”

“i’ve got all the riches, baby, one man can claim”

Today’s Topic:  Women, women, women

Mood Music:  My Girl by the Temptations

Man I love women.  Seriously.  I just can’t imagine a World without women.  Ok, really, that’s just a ridiculous notion, I know.  I mean, I don’t think that anyone (including gay men) would want to imagine a world without women.  Now, don’t get me wrong….I have days where I’d be happy as hell if I was “woman free”.  (think College Football Saturdays, think College Football Saturdays, think….ok, so maybe there are only a handful of days during the year…..those of you who actually enjoy watching College Football with your wives, girlfriends, Moms, etc…are only fooling yourselves…and hopefully said women.  I don’t care how knowledgeable (and the greater the knowledge the more annoying….I’m sorry, it just is) a woman is about football….it’s just not very fun watching College Football with women.  Sorry gals (but hey, if that’s the only real complaint, then y’all are doing a lot right…and trust me, the rest of this post will hopefully demonstrate that).

Let me give a few examples of the ridiculous power of the female sex (bear with me here Elle):

- in college, our fraternity house would hang out on the porch, drink beer, and watch the mass of College Freshman girls parade from Sorority house to Sorority house during Rush.  I cannot even put into words the testerone enducing nature of those warm September days.  It was wave after wave of sundresses and done up dos and it was glorious.  (all 5 years that I experienced…thanks Mom and Dad…sorry)

- that first hot weekend where the ladies decide to put on something short and thin because they have been waiting all winter for the day they can start to work on their base tan.  Just as you’ve almost forgotten what it’s like to see hot women in hardly any clothing…..WHAM it slams you in the face like an effin’ freight train (and really doesn’t let up until almost October).

- Christie Brinkley in Vacation, Phoebe Cates in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Kim Basinger in Batman, Jessica Alba in Sin City….there’s a role for every decade…and then some

- THE SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIMSUIT ISSUE!!! – now, this deserves a blog all its own (actually, check in tomorrow and I’ll give you my Top 10 SI models of all-time), but My God, if there’s ever been a better annual issue of any other magazine, I’d love to know what it is….

Those are just a few of the things are so endearing about the opposite sex.  Now for a few reasons why the women in my life are just so damn incredible:

I mean….I don’t know where I’d be without my Mom (we’ll call her Vicky).  No, seriously, I don’t know where I’d be if it weren’t for my Mom (and Dad, but Dad, this day’s for the women, I’ll get you back sometime soon, I promise)  I’m adopted.  If it weren’t for my Mom (and Dad) I could be smoking crack somewhere in East L.A. with a dude named Melvin (or, if I was extremely lucky, some gal named Gigi).  Mom, I’ve blogged before about how grateful I am for everything you’ve done for me, but it can’t be said enough.  From driving me to a ridiculous baseball tryout in…(I have no clue where that was, I think Tito was there?) to supporting me through the toughest times of my life…thanks for everything you do!!!  You are a truly incredible woman!!!

My sister (we’ll call her Margo)….I mean, talk about someone putting up with soooooo much crap.  If it weren’t for Margo, nothing would ever get planned or done…and by planned I mean:

birthdays, dinner reservations, vacations, gifts (I’m pretty sure that she’s responsible for 99% of the birthday gifts that we’ve given our parents for the last 10 years…minimum), keeping the family together….

I’m fairly certain that once she shed “Silky” it was understood that she would be taking care of her brothers from that point on….but I’m not gonna lie, she ragged ole’ “Silky” out (for those that care, Silky was the equivalent of a blanky or teddy bear or whatever you had as a “safety” device growing up).  Let me just say, that we’re all better people “post Silky” Margo!

Seriously, Margo, thanks for all that you do for ”the boys”.  I don’t know where we’d be without you.  You are a truly incredible woman!!!  

My wife (we’ll call her Elle).  What can I say?  Last week, she was out of town for work (for 4+ days)…..let me just say that for those of you who aren’t married….just wait….for some reason, your ability to maintain a normal life without your wife around dissipates as you rely on her for soooo much…without even realizing it.  My parents came in town and I made sure the house was clean, the dog was clean, the guest room was prepared…and yet, I still forgot to get the food and drinks that we typically provide for my folks.  Unbelievable.  There are hundreds of similar examples of the things that Elle does for me that I tend to take for granted (and I’ve probably been taking those things for granted since 6th grade).  Elle, from the moment that I passed you that note on the bus during the Soar trip in 6th grade, I’ve known that you and I would be together, but there’s no way I could’ve ever known how much of an amazing person you’d turn out to be. 

Elle, thanks for everything you do…..I couldn’t ask for a more unbelievable wife!!!  You are truly an incredible woman!!!

Just a small thanks to the 3 most important women in my life.  Again, I have no idea what I (or plenty of other guys…Dad, Ayden, Jenks, etc…) would do without y’all.  Thanks for being you and helping us maintain our sanity and allowing us to become the men we are today!!!!

Dudes, feel free to give a shout out to the women in your lives….Valentine’s Day is just around the corner (and despite my LOVE for women, especially my wife, I’m just not a very big fan of St. Valentines Day….sue me.)

I’ll talk at you all again later.

“well I guess you’ll say, what can make me feel this way….”

“times have changed and times are strange, here I come but I ain’t the same”

Today’s Topic:  The Little Prince

Mood Music:  Mama, I’m Coming Home by “the Prince of Daaavness”

Ah, the Little Prince.  A reference to Aaron Littleton?  Possibly.  For those that don’t know, that was the title of last week’s episode of Lost…I’ll get to the significance of the title after this week’s WOW Lost In Review (again, I’ll give the on-island synopsis first, followed by what’s happening off-island)…..

so for now….Season 5, episode 4………….the Little Prince:

Here’s where I normally start in on the first scene….I’m not gonna rehash the “previously on Lost” clip segment that opens each week, but there was a particularly awesome clip this week.  Pay close attention when rewatching the episode to the clip of Charlotte falling down….all I can say about her acting is:  What was up with ole’ “chicken hand Willie”? (another story for another time, but man Charlotte is lookin’ rough)

 Now, on to the episode…

FLASHBACK – January 2, 2005 (first scene)

The episode opens on a shot of the “Searcher”….Penny’s boat that rescued the O6 (the Oceanic 6 for the unitiated….last time I’m letting you know).  Kate wants to keep Aaron because she doesn’t want to see any more harm come to the “losties”.  Jack lets her know that he’s gonna have to convince the rest of the O6 to lie about what happened to them.  He asks if Kate is with him and she responds that she has always been with him…

ON-ISLAND

November 1, 2004 (the time flashing islanders)

Locke, Sawyer, Juliet, Miles, Charlotte, and Daniel are at the Mesa (for info. on this place look at the WOW review of “Jughead” from last week).  After Daniel revives Charlotte (as well as avoiding a few questions as to whether or not he knows what’s going on with “the sickness”), Locke recommends that they try and take the Zodiac (a small boat with a motor that has been travelling with them in time…I know, just trust me) to the Orchid station to stop the flashes.  They head for the beach in the dark and notice a huge beam of light off in the woods.  Locke knows that this is the beam of light that came on in the hatch on the night that Boone died in the 1st season episodes “Deux Ex Machina” and “Do No Harm”. 

***One of the truly unbelievable benefits of the “time-jumping” of these characters is that we are getting the opportunity to see things on the island that we’ve either already seen … from a new perspective….or we’re getting to see things that we’ve only heard about through dialogue.  The light from the hatch was a MASSIVE moment in Season 1 because it’s what helped convince Locke to forge ahead.  He had almost given up on the island’s mysteries after Boone’s accident.

He steers the others clear of that direction.  They hear a woman crying and Sawyer breaks from the group to investigate.  He takes off on his own and comes upon Kate attending to the birth of Aaron.  Sawyer is visibly shaken upon seeing Kate.

***I have to say that this was a pretty emotional scene (the theme music helps kick that shit up a notch too by the way).  You just feel so bad for Sawyer because it’s understood that he’s probably not gonna get to talk to Kate and he might not ever see her again.  I also wondered upon 2nd viewing…why the writers/producers/etc….decided to use this scene as the one where Sawyer happens to see Kate again.  I have to believe that showing the birth of Aaron again…especially in this episode….has to have more significance than just demonstrating Sawyer’s feelings for Kate.

Time shifts and Miles tells Faraday that he’s having a nosebleed similar to the way Charlotte’s problems started.  Faraday explains to Miles that the nosebleeds might be occurring based on the ”duration of exposure” or the length of the person’s time on the island.  Miles is confused about this because he knows that Juliet, Sawyer, and Locke were all on the island before they got there from the freighter.  Daniel asks him if he’s sure he hasn’t been on the island before.

***this little tidbit plays into the theory that Miles might be the baby (of Dr. Chang) from the 1st episode this season, Because You Left.  That’s a definite possibility…or maybe…just maybe….Dr. Chang’s baby is….Jin.  Ha.  I mean, there are only a few Asian characters to choose from so it’s not such a broad leap in guessing Jin is it?

2005 or Later

The group makes their way to the beach.  They find the camp but it looks like it’s been ransacked.  The structures are disheveled and the supplies look liked they’ve been stolen or consumed.  They are concerned as to where the other “losties” (i.e. Bernard and Rose) have gone.

***they also find Vincent’s leash…meaning that he must’ve been alive when they made the jump…good to know we might get to see that ole’ lab 1 more time

They can’t find the Zodiac, but there are a couple outriggers on the beach.  Assuming that the other ”losties” fled from whoever was in the boats, they decide to get into one of the canoes and take it to the Orchid.  Inside, they find a water bottle that has Arija on it. 

***Juliet mentions that Arija is and Indian airline.  I’ve included a little more info. on this airline at the bottom of the post…as well as a link to their website.  Very interesting.  Also, the outriggers seem to look similar to the canoe that Alex and Carl had in Season 3. 

As they are paddling in the outrigger, a group of strangers shoot at them from behind.  They are in the other boat and before they can get close enough…there is another flash….

this time the “losties” (by the way, I’m gonna use this term for the groups of ‘on-island’ people that we are following…that includes Oceanic survivors, Others, or freighties) end up in the Ocean, but it’s now storming substantially.  Sawyer ain’t happy about it, but at least they’re alive.

1988

The “losties” come to shore at nightfall.  Juliet and Sawyer have a brief conversation about him seeing Kate.

***I believe that it’s only a matter of time for these 2.  Y’all?

Juliet wants to know why Sawyer didn’t try and talk to Kate and he says that “what’s done is done”.  He notices that Juliet’s nose is now bleeding.  Uh-oh.

Charlotte alerts the group of some ship’s wreckage and Locke finds a cannister with the word besixdouze (B612) on it.

***the word probably refers to the ships’ title but for a little more in-depth info. on the term, see the tidbits at the end of this blog

In the ocean, a life raft full of French speaking men and women pull in a man from the water.  IT’S JIN!!! (I had a feeling that this dude didn’t die…hell yeah!)

After the French folks get on the beach, they are hurriedly trying to identify the source of a transmission.  They question Jin to no avail and finally a pregnant woman introduces herself to Jin as DANIELLE ROUSSEAU…yowsa…and Jin stares at her confused.

OFF-ISLAND

2008

After borrowing a suit from Sun, Kate takes off to meet with the lawyers that approached her about the blood tests to prove if Aaron’s really her son.  She leaves Aaron with Sun.

***is it just me or is Sun still acting really damn creepy?  for a brief moment, well until we see what happens later, I thought that Sun might actually kidnap Aaron

Kate leaves and Sun receives a package.  She opens it up and there are photos of Jack and Ben, as well as a box of chocolates with a gun underneath.  Nice.

***I’m guessing the gun’s a gift from Widmore.  Just a hunch.

Kate meets with Dan Norton (the lawyer) and agrees to allow them to test her blood if they’ll allow her to talk to their client.  He says that his client will probably say no, and that he could get a court order to force her hand but the client wants the “exchange of custody” to go smoothly…quietly.

***I’m wondering what the exchange of custody actually means…is it just a bluff by Ben?

Jack is reviving Sayid at the hospital.  He’s called out by the Director of Clinical Services who asks him what he’s doing there considering he’s suspended on charges of substance abuse.  His phone rings and it’s Hurley in jail. 

He’s relieved that Sayid’s ok.  Ben shows up and asks about Sayid.  A male nurse comes in and tries to shoot Sayid again with a tranquilizer.  Sayid, in typical Sayid fashion, takes his ass the eff out and gets a note out of his pocket before darting his ass.  Sayid mentions the address on the note and Jack says that it’s Kate’s address.

Jack calls Kate to see what’s up.  Although she’s hesitant…kate answers.  She tells him that Aaron’s with Sun.  He’s surprised that Sun is in LA.  She tells him where she is so that he can go meet her.  Ben wants to go visit Hurley, but Sayid won’t let him go alone.  He takes the keys from Ben so that he can drive the carpet cleaner van Ben’s gotten hold of…yeah.  Ben tells Jack to meet them at the Long Beach Marina (Slip 23..Hi Oh.) after he gets Kate and says to hurry because they’re running out of time.

***this is obviously a reference to the 70 hours that Ms. Hawking was talking about in Episode 2 from this season, “the Lie”.

Jack meets Kate and they follow Dan Norton to an apartment.  There, they see him talking to Claire’s mom, Carole Littleton.  Jack says that he can ”fix this” and goes into the apartment to speak with Claire’s mom.  He goes inside with the intention of explaining why he and Kate took Aaron, but she doesn’t seem to know what he’s talking about.  Jack tells Kate that she’s there because of a lawsuit with Oceanic.  After finding this out, they go to meet with Ben.

Ben and Sayid are driving to get Hurley.  They pull into a parking garage where Dan Norton comes up and tells them that there’s no case against “Reyes” and that he’ll be a free man.  Sayid asks Ben who the guy was and he tells him that it’s his lawyer.

Jack, Kate, Ben, and Sayid meet up.  Kate is very alarmed upon seeing Ben.  Jack assures her that it’s ok.  He’s going to help them.  Kate accuses Ben of trying to take Aaron.  Ben admits to doing this and says to her that it’s “Because he’s not your son”.  We see Sun watching from inside a car with Aaron in the back. 

She grabs the gun and gets out.

Tidbits and Questions

***the name on the “Carpet Van” of Ben’s is Canton Rainier which is an anagram for “Reincarnation”……my question is….does that mean that maybe since they emphasized the birth of Aaron again in this episode that he might be the reincarnation of someone?  We know that Boone died that same night, but I don’t think it’s him.  So who might Aaron be?  or maybe it’s something else

***they find an Ajira Airways water bottle….could this be the airline that the O6 use to get back?  Either way, check out the website:

www.ajiraairways.com

***finally, the title of the episode, “the little prince” refers to a book by the author Antione de Saint Exupery titled amazingly, “Le Petit Prince”.  The book’s narrator survives a plane crash in the desert and runs into “the Little Prince” who has left his home asteroid (which is named Besixdouze by the way) to find out more about the universe.  Problem is…he can’t survive away from his home.  In the book, “the Little Prince” is drawn as a young blond haired boy….hmmmmm.  For more on this, check it out on lostpedia.com.

Quotes

“I needed that pain…to get to where I am now” Locke to Sawyer explaining why he didn’t take them towards the light in the jungle earlier

“doesn’t make any sense…those Yahoos have been here for months….I’ve never been here before 2 weeks ago” Miles to Faraday regarding the nosebleeds

“anybody for a Dharma beer?  Hello, anybody here?  Rose!  Bernard!” Sawyer as they get to the Beach Camp

“Thank you Lord!!!….I take that back!!!” Sawyer upon being rescued by the time-jump and then dumped into a stormy ocean

and last but not least….

I really liked this episode a lot.  The 5th season is getting into a nice groove.  I’m really enjoying the opening scenes setting the tone for the episode.  Whether it’s establishing the characters’ apprehension on “the Searcher” as to what they are going to do, or just showing Kate’s fear of what might happen to Aaron…I like seeing all of this as it comes together.  The time-jumps are awesome…whether it’s only one per episode or multiple jumps, it’s making for a very unique and interesting way to tell the island’s backstory.  As far as the reincarnation anagram, Jin being alive, Sun’s insanity and Ben’s ridiculous involvement in trying to get them back to the island…your guess is as good as mine.   In the meantime…

I’ll talk at you all again later.

“cause Mama….Mama I’m coming hoooooome.  I’m coming ho-o-ome.”

“there’s the pitch, slow and straight, all I have to do is swing and I’m a hero”

Today’s Topic:  Bob Knight might want to coach UGA….please don’t eff this up Mr. Adams, seriously.

Mood Music:  Perfect Situation by Weezer

I know what most of you are thinking….Georgia actually has a basketball team?  I know…you probably thought they just gave up after Dominique Wilkins (actually I’m fairly certain that most of you are now thinking, “Dominique Wilkins played at UGA?”  Yes.  He did). 

Well, the Dawgs have essentially done nothing since Wilkins left in 82′.  Ok, they actually made it to the Final Four in 83′ (by the way, if any of you are real College Basketball fans or grew up around Raleigh, you probably understand why UGA’s final four appearance has also been forgotten.  Especially if you happen to be a Wolfpack fan).  I’m sure all of you have seen the footage of Valvano searching for a hug.  Yep, same year.  Talk about being massively overshadowed.  I bet most people can’t name the other teams that also made the final four that year.  (for those that care, it was Houston or Phi Slama Jama w/ Drexler and Olajuwon and ”the Doctors of Dunk”, Louisville).  UGA basketball has been just about as relevant as South Carolina football over the last …. ok forever.  They’ve been about as relevant as Mickey Rourke over the last 25 years…..but ohhhhh, does that mean there might be a silver lining in store for UGA?  I mean, Rourke finally gave up on the notion that he could be a successful boxer (albeit after his face was massively altered from sparring) and picked a role that has him nominated for an Oscar.

Michael Adams and Damon Evans (and Mark Bradley if you’re out there you arrogant jackass….for those that are wondering…Adams is UGA’s President, Evans is the Athletic Director, and Mark Bradley is a jackass.)…..please don’t screw this one up.  Why am I referencing Rourke and his attempt at pro-boxing?  Because he finally realized that he was an actor and that’s what he should be doing.  For UGA, they must realize that they are a football school…the basketball program is awful and will never be relevant if they continue to act like the graduation rate and discipline of their players are more important qualities for hiring a coach than winning games.  I commend you guys for giving Felton a shot.  He helped the program bounce back from the Harrick debacle and showed that he would not take any shit from his players.  Well, that’s admirable Dennis, but who really gives a shit if your players are keeping their noses clean and graduating.  You know what it means if a basketball program is graduating more than 75% of their players?  It means that they aren’t recruiting very well.  Dude, most “good” or “great” college players aren’t around more than a couple years if you’re lucky.  Now. I’m not condoning the recruitment of shady guys that are gonna be hell-raisers off the court and not give a crap about the team in general (I also don’t think Knight’s gonna put up with that shit for more than 2 seconds either).  I’m not shrugging off the notion that an education is important.  I’m just being realistic.  You don’t think that any college basketball players actually care about graduating do you?  Well, other than Duke players, but I’m not counting them.  So if the players don’t care, then why not get a coach that’s gonna win?  Does if really reflect that poorly on the University if the basketball coach is notorious for being a jackass on the court?  If you ask me, I think a lot of those players need their asses kicked around a little anyway.  It would do them gome good.  make em’ better men.  The alternative is to continue to fly under the radar (nationally, locally, and record wise). 

Listen, I understand that Bob Knight rubs some people the wrong way…but if you’re UGA, is it really an option to turn down the winningest coach in College Basketball History?  Seriously, could they be that effin’ arrogant?  What’s the excuse?  Knight runs a tight ship.  He’s never had an issue with NCAA violations.  Sure, he smacks guys around a little bit sometimes, and looses his temper, but my God, I can’t imagine what you all would think of me if you could see how I used to act playing Church League basketball.  whoa.  (that story is for another time…don’t let me forget).  There are 2 reasons why hiring Knight is a no-brainer in my opinion:

1) He’s a proven winner

2) He will bring attention to the University of Georgia’s basketball program (some might be negative, but kids are gonna want to come to Georgia to play for Knight, even if he’s only around for a few years) and ESPN will probably set up a satellite station in Athens just to hang around.

So, why would Knight (the winningest Coach in College Basketball History) want to come to Athens?

Easy, if he could win 3 NCs at Indiana (15 straight NCAA tourney appearances before he was run out of town), and take Texas Tech to the NCAA tourney in 4 of the 7 seasons he was there…..what do you think he’ll be able to do in Athens if he gives it a few seasons?  I mean, Bloomington and Lubbock aren’t exactly “hotbeds” for basketball recruiting, and if he can just get some of the top talent in the state of Georgia to stay home, that alone will field a tourney team.  Let’s not forget that the SEC is not some impossible gauntlet to maneuver either.  Crap, UGA won the SEC tourney last year with one of the worst teams they have had in years.

So, if you can’t tell, I say make the damn call Evans….NOW!!!!! 

But alas, here’s what I foresee happening:

UGA will hem and haw…..not committing to Knight, but not denying anything in the media….Knight will get pissed because he will (justifiably) feel like UGA should be able to make the decision fairly swiftly.  Again, it’s a no-brainer, right?  So, what’s my guess?  The Dawgs will end up hiring Knight’s replacement at Indiana, Mike Davis and I’ll sadly watch the Dawgs suck for another 5 or so years.  Fellas, please don’t let arrogance get in the way of actual logic.  I think that the program needs to be relevant before you need to worry about what “type” of players are actually playing for the school. 

At least Mickey Rourke will win the Oscar….. 

Talk at you all again later. 

“what’s the deal with my brain, why am I so obviously insane?”