A Taste of Things to Come

Ah, we got great look last week of the ongoing war between Ben and Charles Widmore. It seems that these two are locked in a battle, possibly good versus evil. But first, I want to reference a previous blog post of mine on March 2:

"On another note, Penny's dad bought a book once owned by a Hanso that was an artifact of the Black Rock. I think he may end up being the ultimate villain to this whole series. I think he may be the economist Sayid was trying to get to in the future. I think that's his freighter out there, which is why they know not to answer Penny's calls. He has had connection with Dharma in the past and now he wants Ben because he led the purge. He wants the secrets of the island for his own personal gain. Maybe even to be immortal. Maybe he's been to the island and now he's trying to get back. Maybe he was on the Black Rock when it set sail."

Now I bring this back up because there is a big theory circulating that Widmore is actually Magnus Hanso, the captain of the Black Rock and the ancestor of those that started the Hanso Foundation. I debated this idea in my head for awhile and concluded that they are not the same person. However, I do think Widmore does have a connection to the ship, with one of two possibilities.

1) He was the owner of the company that the Black Rock sailed for, which is partially how he accumulated his wealth. He may have even been searching for the island then, with this being his first freighter.

While this is a possibility, I favor my second idea, which is also why I don't believe Hanso and Widmore are the same person.

2) He was a member of the crew of the Black Rock, sailing under the command of Hanso. And I quite possibly think Widmore was the second in command of the Black Rock.

Think back to the auction scene in Desmond's flashback where Widmore purchased the journal of the first mate of the Black Rock. I think Widmore was buying what used to be his. The journal was auctioned by Tovard Hanso. So it wouldn't make sense that Widmore would have to buy something from the Hansos if he was a Hanso himself. There was a painting of ship next to Widmore's bed that I believe is of the Black Rock.

There may have been a history between Hanso and Widmore. Widmore may have led a mutiny against Hanso to take control of the island. I think there may have been a battle between the Hansos and Widmores for control of the island over the years. Then Ben stepped in and disrupted that battle and entered the war. Now I think Ben represents good and Widmore represents evil. Think back to the pilot episode where Locke and Walt play backgammon and Locke talks about what the colors represent. And yes, Ben does do some seemingly evil things. However, I'm reminded of the fortune cookie saying I keep in my wallet: "For a good cause, wrong doing may be virtuous."

Finally, Widmore seems to care greatly about Penelope. But I've yet to see any display of emotion or connection to the Hansos, which brings me to my final point.

Penny won't be killed. Ben won't be the one to go after and kill her. He will send his lackey Sayid. While Sayid may find some revenge in killing her, he ultimately won't because he will see her as innocent and does not want to hurt his friend Desmond. So it will probably come to a dramatic scene with Sayid pointing the gun and ultimately unable to pull the trigger. He will tell Penelope to go into hiding and tell Ben that she is dead. Ben will have the satisfaction of his revenge, though it never will have taken place.

Hot New TV Shows for the Fall

As this television season wraps up next month and many favorite televisions shows start coming back, the networks start announcing their new shows for the fall. Here's a preview of what may be coming to a TV near year.

*Follow all the crazy antics of the inhabitants in a mental institution in the new series "Mixed Nuts."

*A disgraced New York governor becomes an ornithologist who discovers a new bird species in "Spitzer Swallows."

*A young culinary artist opens up a restaurant in D.C. in "Hail to the Chef."

*The president of a dairy plant must juggle his life as a father at home in "The Big Cheese."

*The life of the plumber who's responsible for all the waterworks in the British monarchy's residences in "Royal Flush."

*The warden of a southern prison is the focus of the new sitcom "Alabama Slammer."

*Proprietor Alan B. Monty must deal with all the guests complaints of his ocean-side hotel in "Beached Wail."

*A woman leads a high profile life as Prague’s preeminent matchmaker in "Czech Mate."

*Prominent playground equipment salesman Walter Riley does his best in his fast-paced job in the new sitcom "It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got that Swing."

*What happened to Amerigo Vespucci after he drew a map of the world? Follow his zany adventures in "Out of Bounds."

*Dr. Jack Webb loses his arms and legs in a horrific go-kart accident, so he opens up his practice online in "Jack Webb, M.D."

*Richard Moll's bailiff character from "Night Court" moves to Vegas to start his new career in "Pit Bull."

*A group of fisherman off the coast of Maryland face hard times when they can no longer make big catches in "Nothing But Net."

*Environmentalist Robert T. Patterson faces the world's problems in "It's Not Easy Being Green."

It Was Michael After All

Or was it?

I've been intrigued by delicious speculation recently that it really is not Michael...but rather Walt grown up. Yet, the previews for next week said something about how far a father is willing to go to protect his son. Yet, that's just the kind of crazy thinking Lost has people going through these days.

I was sitting here trying to convince myself that last night's episode was not a combination flashback/flashforward. But, yeah, it really was. I remember at one point saying to myself, "Wow, Jin's phone looks really old." That was evidence number one. Then was the fact that it was the year of the dragon, or 2000. I'm not buying a time jump to the next year of the dragon, which is 2012. Finally, Jin said he was working for Mr. Paik, Sun's father. Now, I would have bought some conspiracy theory here. Perhaps Jin is off the island, working with Ben much in the same way as Sayid. Think about it. Sayid and Jin have very similar backgrounds and are capable of doing the same kind of work. So, as this might not ultimately been the case in this episode, I think it might be in the future.

Which brings me to...

Jin is not dead. I don't think so. The date of death on the grave was the date of the crash. So, we know that's not true. And we still don't know what the complete story devised by the Oceanic 6 is, but we know it includes saying a lot of people died in the crash.

So, yes, I think Jin is still alive and may be doing the same sort of work Sayid is doing. He has the experience and connections too. Mr. Paik may be involved with Widmore somehow.

I also think Jin may be alive because of a seemingly weird statement Hurley said. He asked if anyone else was coming, which Sun replied no. Then he said a creepy, "Good." But I think that "good" meant no one was coming out of the woodworks to possibly spoil the lie they have told. As evidenced when Sun rushed into the hospital, people know the Oceanic 6. So they must keep up appearances as much as possible.

Which brings us back to the Oceanic 6. I had Jin in. But Jin's now out. Is Aaron really the last piece of the puzzle? Or is there another one yet to be revealed? A part of me just doesn't want to accept it's Aaron. Mainly because I really don't care about Aaron. Also, he's never been called or identified as Oceanic 6, whereas Jack, Kate, Sayid, Hurley and now Sun all have been. I'm still trying to figure out who it might be.

Maybe Ben, assuming the identity of someone on the plane. He certainly has the means, and might be able to find someone on the flight who had little or no connections in the world. Or now, maybe Michael. I just don't want to call this case closed just yet.

The Dearly Departed

My dog died today.

It wasn't unexpected. He had health complications for awhile. He was the runt of the litter, so it goes with the territory. He wasn't put to sleep, but he also didn't suffer. He was just in the arms of my mother, took one last deep breath and his heart just stopped.

You see we always knew it would be his heart. He had a heart arrhythmia, caused by enlarged heart muscles for his size of a dog. He had to take regular medication for it, but never seemed to mind.

In his years of life, I never saw him growl or snap at anyone else. It wasn't his personality. He loved meeting new people and would literally try to "talk" with those he would see. He was quite social.

Maybe that's why I picked him. But in a way, he picked me. When we went out to Bristow, Oklahoma, to see the Mrs. McClendon's puppies, he was the first one to walk up to me. So I picked him up and didn't let him go until we got home. Back then, he didn't really look much like a dog, so much an ewok.

He had his favorite people too. His groomer in Tulsa. The neighbors in Houston. The squirrels.

I named him for the street I grew up on, Ramsey. In a way, he bridged my life from Louisiana to Oklahoma, through his name and his presence.

All in all, it was only fitting that he died in the arms of someone who loved him dearly, and he died of a big heart.

Jacob and His Father

When Isaac was aged and blind, he decided to bless his eldest son before he died. He sent Esau out in the fields to hunt down some meat and prepare him a meal, after which he would receive his blessing. (According to the Jewish commentators, since the blessing would be prophetic, and prophecy only rests on one who is in a joyful state of mind, Isaac desired to first eat meat and drink wine to arouse himself to happiness.)

Rebecca overheard this exchange. As Esau went out to the hunt, she instructed Jacob to fetch her two goats so that she could prepare a tasty meal for his father, and commanded him to bring the meal to Isaac to receive the blessing in his brother's stead. Jacob protested that his father might notice the substitution through touch, since Esau was hairy and he was smooth-skinned. Rebecca told him not to worry, and placed hairy goatskins over his neck and arms.

Thus disguised, Jacob went into his father's tent. Isaac was surprised that he had returned so soon from the "hunt." "Who are you, my son?" Isaac asked suspiciously. "I am Esau your firstborn," Jacob replied (the Hebrew words, however, can be divided into two statements: "I" and "Esau is your firstborn"). Isaac was still suspicious and asked to feel him, since Esau was hairy. The goatskins seemed to fool him, although he maintained, "The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau." Nevertheless, Isaac blessed him and sent him on his way.

As soon as Jacob left the tent, Esau arrived and exposed the deception. Isaac was shaken, but he affirmed that Jacob would indeed be blessed. To Esau's pathetic entreaties, he agreed to give Esau a lesser blessing. Esau exclaimed, "Is that why he is called Jacob (יעקב), because he has deceived me (ויעקבני) these two times?" (Genesis 27:35), another play on Jacob's name. Then Esau swore to himself that he would kill Jacob in revenge as soon as his father was dead.

Jacob's Birthright

Jacob, together with his older brother Esau, was born to Isaac and Rebecca after 20 years of marriage, at which time his father was 60 (Genesis 25:26), and Abraham was already 160 years old. He and his older brother Esau were markedly different in appearance and behavior. Esau was a ruddy hunter, while Jacob was a gentle man who "dwelled in tents," interpreted by many biblical commentators as a mark of his studiousness and reserved personality.

During Rebecca's pregnancy, "the children struggled together within her" (Genesis 25:22).

Esau was the firstborn. His brother Jacob was born immediately afterwards, and was grasping Esau's heel. His name, Ya'akov (יעקב), derives from the Hebrew root "עקב," "heel." Commentators explain that Jacob was trying to hold Esau back from being the firstborn, and in that way claim the Abrahamic legacy for his own self. According to the text, Jacob was favoured by his mother, while Esau was favoured by his father.

During their youth, the twins were raised in the same environment and exposed to the same teachings of their father Isaac and grandfather Abraham. One day, Esau returned from the field faint from hunger. Seizing an opportunity, Jacob informed Esau that he would sell him some lentil soup which he had just cooked, in exchange for the birthright which belonged to Esau as the older brother. Esau agreed, commenting, "I am going to die — what is this birthright to me?" The fact that Esau would sell his familial rights in exchange for soup indicates the disdain in which he held his fathers' traditions. In the words of the Bible, "Esau despised the birthright." (Genesis 25:29-34) However, there are many interpretations of this statement. Some believe he meant that if he were dead, then his brother would have the birthright anyway; why should he die? If Esau were not to sell his birthright, he may have died from starvation, giving Jacob the birthright either way.

The text further explains that since he referred to the soup as "red, red, stuff," he was given the name "Edom" (Hebrew: אדום, red one). The name Edom is thus seen as an eponym which gave rise to the national name of the Edomites.

The birthright included not only the traditional Biblical birthright, which granted superior rank in the family (Genesis 49:3), a double portion of the paternal inheritance (Deuteronomy 21:17), and the priestly office in the family (Numbers 8:17-19), but the Abrahamic blessing as well, which promised that his descendants would be a source of blessing for all the nations of the earth (Genesis 21:15-18). However, Esau, knowing that God had declared that Abraham's descendants would be enslaved for 400 years before returning to their own land (referring to the Hebrews' enslavement in Egypt) (Genesis 15:13-14), wanted to exclude himself from being part of God's chosen people.

According to the Midrash, the day on which Esau sold his birthright was the very same day that Abraham died; the lentil soup which Jacob had cooked was a food traditionally eaten at times of mourning. This sheds some light on Esau's comment that he "was going to die." The midrash further states that Esau had committed the three cardinal sins – murder, adultery and idolatry, which is why he was tired that day. Setting the scene at the time of Abraham's death would mean that Jacob and Esau were both 15 years old at that time.

"You Can't Change the Future"

Woah...I've just been mindf*cked by Lost.

It's interesting that constants have been brought up because I've been in the midsts of constant and regression discussions in class.

So Desmond's constant is Penny. Daniel's constant is Desmond.

Now suppose for a moment that everyone on the island must develop a constant, something to hold on to if they ever start shifting time. Add on the pairs we've seen.

Kate's constant in Aaron.
Jack's constant is Kate.
Hurley's constant is Charlie.
Locke's constant is Walt (though I think Locke thinks his constant is Jacob).

And there are other "pairs" forming in the show. I think this adds up to the possibility of future jumping. For instance, Jack goes back to practice medicine. If he's in a hospital, he runs a good chance of running into radiation, which could trigger jumps. Maybe he's been jumping during the season finale of last season. He contacts his constant, Kate, and wants to go back because he thinks that's his cure.

And maybe Kate doesn't want to be separated from Aaron in case she jumps. She said "he needs me," but maybe it's the other way around. Maybe she needs him for her own sake.

Time jumping may be a key to the series, because step back and think of the series itself. The motif of each show is a time jump. It started with flashbacks. Now, they are mixed with flashforwards. The way the show itself is told is a key to the show itself.

On another note, Penny's dad bought a book once owned by a Hanso that was an artifact of the Black Rock. I think he may end up being the ultimate villain to this whole series. I think he may be the economist Sayid was trying to get to in the future. I think that's his freighter out there, which is why they know not to answer Penny's calls. He has had connection with Dharma in the past and now he wants Ben because he led the purge. He wants the secrets of the island for his own personal gain. Maybe even to be immortal. Maybe he's been to the island and now he's trying to get back. Maybe he was on the Black Rock when it set sail. Penny said she knew about the island for three years before Desmond called. It seems like the likely person she found out about it from is her father.

Ultimately, I think people stay on the island because that's the only way they can survive. So, the Oceanic 6 devise their lies to tell the world so the world will leave them alone and not find out the secrets of the island. When you think about it, no one really should have survived that plane crash. That many people to survive would be damn near impossible. The island must have saved them. Now, they are trying to save the island. Maybe that's why they can eventually leave. They brokered a deal with the island's keeper (Jacob?) that allowed them to leave. The island gave them life, now they are trying to protect it.