LOST Revelations

We are well into the second season of LOST and the mystery deepens. One of the greatest things about ABC’s hit series is the intricate web of details and clues that connect the characters to one another. One of the worst things is, of course, the reruns. I have come to the conclusion that the creators desire us to notice particular things in the replayed episodes to give greater meaning to continuing episodes.

This week the two hour Pilot is airing. I own the first season on DVD and noticed, while watching the Pilot for the 4th time, one of the background characters saying she thought the noise in the jungle sounded familiar, and she is from France (which is where Danielle, who has been on the island for 16 yrs, is from). Coincidence? I think not. Here are some other uncanny connections:

*Hurley, in his pre- plane crash life, used a series of numbers to win millions in the lottery: 4,8,15,16,23,42. He heard these numbers repeated over and over by Leonard with whom he spent time with while in the mental hospital (where Locke’s mother also spent time). Leonard overheard them while monitoring a radio for the navy. Leonard used the numbers to win $5,000 with a friend. After using the numbers, Leonard went crazy while his friend killed himself.

*After Hurley used the numbers death and destruction began following him. Hurley believes the crash is his fault, due to the bad luck of the numbers.

*Danielle, the French woman, also heard the numbers from her science team’s ship 16 years prior to the recent crash of Oceanic flight 815 (which happens to be the sequence of the 2nd and 3rd numbers). They found the source of the broadcast: The Island.

*The numbers are engraved on the side of the hatch that Locke and Boone find in the jungle. Inside the hatch they find Desmond (who Jack met years before in his pre-crash life) and are instructed to type in the cursed numbers which will reset a clock for 108 minutes.

Theories abound as to what is really going on on the Island. Among the theories debunked by producers in the recent TV Guide: Purgatory, the imagination of one survivor, time travel, and aliens.

Theories that remain:

A sickness: This is supported by the fact that Danielle killed her entire team because they were “sick”. Also, the survivors of flight 815 hear whispers, see visions, or hallucinations, and have psychic dreams. The Others have also said that they only take “good” people from the group.

A psychological experiment: This theory is supported by having to press a button every 108 minutes when no one knows what will happen if they don’t. During the orientation video in the hatch, reference was made to B.F. Skinner who experimented with rats in a cage.

A new society in preparation for an apocalyptic event: Evidence that supports this is found in the fact that everyone on the island needs a new start (interestingly John Locke’s namesake is that of the psychologist who declared that people are born Tabula Rasa, or blank slate). They all have left no one behind, and have links to each other in their pre-crash lives. There is also a multinational cast.

I hope that we will have answers to all these questions at some point. Until then, I love being wrapped up in the mystery!

I have heard one very disturbing rumor which I have not been able to substantiate: The writers quit because they wanted more money. There seemed support for this in that the week after I heard it, there was a rerun from season one, and as the new episodes are continuing the characters are becoming increasingly dark. I am still looking for concrete evidence of this though.

*Source for all information and speculations: This weeks TV Guide.

A Public Hanging

The Imposter has been caught, tried, and sentenced!

I, and my team of investigators (who shall remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of their existence), have tracked down and prosecuted Daniel Geaslan for unlawful conduct on the Exhale website.

Dan has hear-by been charged with:

*Numerous counts of impersonating The Steph.

*Two counts of carrying on a conversation with himself.

*One count of impersonating another user (poor Bob).

*Three counts of annoying behavior.

The verdict is as follows:

1. Dan must publicly announce himself as the imposter at the scene of the crime (the shoutbox).

2. For his next seven visits, Dan must include in his comments at least one praiseworthy thing about The Steph whose name he has so besmirched.

3. Dan must find an accountability partner that will help him occupy his thoughts more constructively while flying around up in the clouds. It’s obvious he has too much time to think about nothing. If one cannot be found, one will be appointed by the Exhale court.

4. Dan’s website Africaflyboy must be visited by all members of the jury (that is you), and comments should be left there as to your disapproval of his conduct here (since we are all unanimous in our decision).

Let this be a warning to all who think they can get away with cyber offences on the Exhale website!

Colombia

This past week one of the highlighted countries in my world geography class was Colombia. Here are some astonishing facts I learned about Colombia:

Colombia is in South America and is bordered by Panama, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador.

The official language of Colombia is Spanish.

Colombia is the world’s #1 exporter of cocaine.

Colombia has an extremely unstable government.

I paid special attention during our talk about Colombia because a tiny corner of my heart was being awakened.

Two years ago: Summer 2003

I received a student publication called Link International from Voice of the Martyrs, a ministry to the persecuted church of the world. This particular issue was highlighting Colombia. It took me two weeks to finally stop looking at it.

Guerrillas control much of Columbia and are funded mainly by the drug trade. Guerrillas are not the official army, but carry out acts of war. Many belong to the FARC which in English translates to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia.

The Guerillas force children to go to their training camps. They consider these children their “allowance”. If a family does not willing surrender their children, they will kidnap them. Many children who have either escaped or been rescued by the Colombian army must live miles from their home and families in “safe houses”.

The most riveting picture in the article (which I don’t think I should post b/c it’s copyrighted) is of a 15 year old girl guerilla soldier being rescued by the Colombian Army. She is being helped into a helicopter by three soldiers and her face is tight and guarded. She is wearing camouflage pants which are in stark contrast to her white teletubby t-shirt.

The violence in Colombia has led to much poverty. Some children are orphaned, and some are just sent out by their parents to make money on the streets. Not all the children who live with their families can afford to go to school (which is almost free).

*All information taken from Link International Summer 2003.


I don’t know if God will ever send me to a place like Colombia. I don’t know if I could even handle the war and trauma and death that surround those children’s lives. The question I keep coming back to is “Can I leave them there?”

Maybe I’m just crazy. Can you picture pipsqueak me rescuing children from Guerillas?! I make my mother nervous when I talk about things like this. :)

I am willing to go if He chooses to send me.

*Please visit Voice of the Martyrs and pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering for the faith around the world.

Take Five

• I applied to the School of Education Wednesday. I will know in six weeks if I have been accepted.
• I did a photo shoot with my cousin this week. We used my uncle's digital. The pictures turned out nice. You will be seeing some of them around.
• My virus protection is up today. I'll need to deal with that.
• I'm leaving at 4:30 today for Grand Haven. I hardly ever go there, so Anna and I are going to explore every nook and cranny that we possibly can. That's what you call adventure on a budget. I'm on the lookout for the new and unexplored. If I find anything interesting, I'll post about it.
• I really should be working on my homework right now.