MIF ! Boy when she sobers up is she going to be mad !
;)

We've talked about this...

It's ransom with an ess, not a dee...

www.slashfilm.com/2008/04/08/the-lost-opening-what-if-jj-abrams-thought-like-everyone-else/

BTW...ILBLxoxo...I bet I could out run you if Smoky was behind me!

Smokie "she's a girl you know"
would hear the tree fall before it fell.
but only if it felt like falling.

I'm ranked pretty high in the state I live in for track. (100-m sprints/dash)

And for your question:
Smokey would not still hear it. He is deaf, but he can detect movement, so he will notice it fall, but still not hear it.

The eye is on the sparrow.

The eagle has landed.

Yet Smokey seems to "hear" the sonic fence!

Little children laugh at "Calvaire."

The turkey is in the toaster oven.

As per DarkUFO, there will be a 3 part season finale (which will include an additional hour of programming).

May 15th - Finale, Part 1 (One hour)
May 29th - Finale, Parts 2 and 3 (Two hours)

No Lost in the intervening week (May 22nd), when the 2 hour finale of Grey's Anatomy will air.

The Frozen Donkey Wheel rotates at midnight.

The Hold Steady rock.

I was too back in the day (200 was mine) ... did you ever try long jump? If not, put a couple low hurdles ten feet from the board as motivation and see how you do ... if good in the 100, I'll bet you can excel in LJ as well. If you can clear the hurdles, technique can come later ...

Okay, thinking like a guy ... try one hurdle at eight feet first before ya hurt yourself.

Freshmen year I did hurdles (100) and the 100. My coach told me I should stick to the 100 because that's what I was best at.

Our school is really competitive. There's always someone better. I guess it's like that everywhere though, so I shouldn't complain... even though I wasn't complaining, but you get my point.

And I was just guessing about the deaf thing... I couldn't think of anything else to say. (#12)

Ugh... ACT's tomorrow morning. I should probably sleep.

And beans don't burn on the grill.

Took a whole lot of trying just to get up that hill.

The chicken is in the egg.
The egg is in the chicken.

One of the following three French phrases was applied as a real code. Which phrase is it & for what event was it used?

*Par nuit tous les chats sont gris.
*Les sanglots longs des violons de l'automne/ bercent mon coeur d'une langueur monotone.
*Grosse Corvette, petite quéquette.

"Chanson d'automne" (Verlaine) quote broadcast by BBC to alert the resistance prior to D-Day invasion (alternately, to spur resistance activity a few days before the invasion at the wrong location, to confuse the German defenses). The quote is actually from the slightly altered Charles Trenet song version of the poem.

Do I win a prize?

And exactly what message were you trying to send with the other two selections? Bet you don't think "Par nuit tous les quéquettes sont gris."

Ding ding ding ding! Now I have to come up w/a prize...

As far as the combination of the other two French lines, let's not even go there. There are minors here. ; )

Now for something completely different: One person's idea of 110 of the best books ever written:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/04/06/nosplit/sv_classics06.xml&CMP=ILC-mostviewedbox

I liked one of the comments following the article: That the best library is the one that one builds oneself.

"Whoa... thats deep Ogre."

- Revenge of the Nerds

?Now for something completely different: One person's idea of 110 of the best books ever written:

>http://www*telegraph*co*uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/04/06/nosplit/sv_classics06.xml&CMP=ILC-mostviewedbox

Sadly, I've only read 22 of these among the 2,395 books I've read since the 10th grade. Many more are on my someday list. (Are there books in heaven? If not I'm not sure I want to go.)

I agree w/your sentiment about heaven & books. It also reminds me of that classic Twilight Zone episode, about the man who finally had the time to read all the books he wanted (well, minus the broken glasses part).

"My library/Was dukedom large enough."
—Wm. Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act 1 scene 2

Key Points from "Meet Kevin Johnson 546/553/555/ealgumby

Dude, I used to live - literally - just a couple of miles SW of you in the Wilde Lake area. I lived in Columbia, worked in Baltimore (Inner harbor) and spent most of my time in DC with college friends.

I echo your experience. Columbia is a nice area - for those of you out there not familiar with the area - the crime rate is very low, but the kids there remind me of Jamie Kennedy as B-Rad in "Malibu's Most Wanted." Sorry about your recent experiences. Small world, eh?

Then guessing you were either in the Lil' Pax loop or down by HR town center ... if the latter (small chance I know), you wouldn't have known a biker dude named "Fat Bob" (off Cedar Lane near 32), would you? Old friend of mine ...

"... the kids there remind me of Jamie Kennedy as B-Rad in 'Malibu's Most Wanted.'"

Exactly! Unfortunately, not a joke. I can intimidate some (most) of them with my theatrics, but probably not the next coming gen who just don't seem to GAS (hence the shooting). I know my Buford Pusser shtick as neighborhood protector carries just so much weight, and am expecting a confrontation soon. Have already been starting to get some occasional lip on my dog walks ... from little kids! This is no longer the Columbia you left ...

As an avid student of the era (I'm guessing) ... what do you think about the Battle of Kursk?

Not many people had even heard of the city/battle until the submarine sinking ... a crying shame ... not in terms of the politics behind it, but in terms of the absolute sacrifice/suffering that occured on both sides ... truly the most momentous battle in all of history (with apologies to D-Day dead and survivors ... my uncle was an Arizona survivor (died a few years back), and I thank God every day for the sacrifices our valiant men made in defense of our beloved country ... but this contribution to sacrifice simply cannot be ignored because it wasn't "ours." It was, in simple terms, the largest tank battle of all time, with conditions of brutality that mankind will hopefully never see again ...

Now, read the Chinese "Constitution" and see what you think about free trade with China ...

tinyurl.com/84ejb

Reagan saw fit to drive the Soviets into the ground financially (and "he" won!), and to this day we strangle impoverished communist Cuba ... yet we send BILLIONS of dollars (for corporate interests) into China, the nation that has according to its own "Constitution" ... "have thwarted aggression, sabotage and armed provocations by imperialists and hegemonists" and "The Chinese people must fight against those forces and elements, both at home and abroad, that are hostile to China's socialist
system and try to undermine it."

Wake up America! Who do the hell do you think the "imperialists and hegomonists" are! It's US! I find it astounding that we, as a nation, have "normal" relations with the one single entity on this planet that WILLINGY states as their goal to destroy us ... I am a liberal, but NOT a pacifist ... China has, and always has since 1949, been bent on destroying the Unites States of America! Are we so stupid!

I have elements in my neighborhood that want to undermine the nature of my community, and I fight them ... we have a NATION of over one billion (or at least their leaders) that want to undermine the nature of our country ... and yet we (corporate America) feed them money, to buy the bullets that will one day be put through our own heads ... STUPID!!!

Count your money now you AHs that deal with China today ... it will be taken from you tomorrow, you F'ing idiots!

No empire lasts ... and you are facilitating the ENEMY by dealing with China ... boycott the Olympics!

Ban me if you will mac, I have hopefully fulfilled my public service ...

I'll support the individual athlete that PERSONALLY chooses to attend the games (regardless of political pressures).

I will NOT support the government that prohibits its' individual athletes from attending the games, in order to exude political pressure.

The games are about athletic excellence - which knows no borders. Besides, you do your personal cause a better service when you go the bullies backyard and take a stand there, instead of staying in your own backyard and sulking.

I figure that the Chinese are becoming capitalists so fast they'll hesitate to become militaristic. Capitalists, despite all the leftist propaganda, prefer peace and profits.

If we can hold Olympics in Hitler's Berlin (1936 - only 3 years from the Anschluss) I guess we can stomach the far lest authoritarian and menacing Chinese.

If we're going to get in a race with anyone, economics is a vastly superior area that arms. The more someone has, the more they have to lose, which is why I think the Arab world is much more likely to be the source of security threats than the Chinese.

---

Ah, yes, Kursk. Read Marshal Zhukov's memoirs. I have/had a lot of respect for the Russian fighting in WW II. A few hundred miles more of advance by the Germans and the battle (and the war) could have gone the other way. True, it's a big country, but most of their most productive land had already been taken, and millions of their subject peoples ended up fighting for the Germans (without too much persuading needed).

The sanitized news over here didn't do them justice. It's a crying shame such a heroic people were saddled with such a lousy system and leaders.
Lucky for us, but a shame for them. I still hope a vital and responsible country (and countries) can be formed out of the shambles of the Soviet empire.

I apologize to all for my rant last evening ... no excuse, but am now apparently just "losing my dog" away from becoming a country music cliché, and have handled my misfortune badly. This is clearly not the appropriate forum for venting my personal woes, and sincerely regret any offense.

That being said, I respectfully submit the following (to be perused/ignored at your own discretion):

tinyurl.com/6pyelt
tinyurl.com/2j3gmh

I'll now keep my mouth shut re world/national politics, I promise.

You've said absolutly nothing you need to apologize for. Vigorous discussion is a good thing, and I enjoy your postings.

I may be a bit more sanguine that you about China's territorial ambitions (they don't have any, that I can see) but of course the experience of Tibet is a hinderance to good relations with the international community, and I support the Tibetan demonstrators and hope that can have some impact on the Chinese government.

Thanks for the links. Is mac allowing them through now, or just approving them more promptly?

I do not have patience for such games ...

Or next time, tazer their butts and super-glue the cup to one of their foreheads! ;o)

I always sing it as GooGoo GaJoob!

But I never hear "cranberry sauce" as "I killed Paul"...

Gwarsh.

...along with my break dancing.

I thought that with no "Lost" rerun last week they didn't have enough time left to broadcast "enhanced" versions of all the S-4 episodes broadcast so far.

Wrong.

In case you haven't looked at the TV schedule, they're broadcasting TWO enhanced eps tonight (8/9 in the Eastern time zone) "Ji Yeon" and "Meet Kevin Johnson".

Still no word on if we'll ever see enhanced versions of the NEW "Lost" eps that start next week.

No, I never had the pleasure. But I did get no know several colorful characters. Overall, liked the area a lot.

Oops, I wrote "SW" in my previous post - meant "NW" - off of Columbia Rd.

Funny you recently mention the battle of Kursk. I'm trying to track down and read all the literary works referenced in "Lost". I've just finished "The Invention of Morel" (review in progress) and am currently reading "The Survivors of the Chancellor", and "Valis".

In "Valis", the POV character is former hippie and drug enthusiast among a group of same, who, having moved on from drugs now engage in philosophical and theological discussions.

One of the characters (a woman cancer-survivor) introduces the battle of Kursk as evidence of the proposition she's advancing. Seriously.

Serendipity.

Michael escapes but,
Doesn't, pulled back in madness
Ben's pawn, he's in play.

It's an interactive site where you go on a treasure hunt and try to find 34 objects. After you find 7 you get to enter a sweepstakes.

I found 31 so far...

My ohhh my what time has flown!

One more day and we are back in business...

And how have people spent their time away from Lost?

Myself - the burden was eased with Season 4 of new series Doctor Who starting. Big fan of y'olde timelord!

Also, I finally got a chance to watch "The Prisoner". I had always heard about the parallels between it and Lost, and it was interesting to watch with that in mind.

Looking forward to seeing Rover ... I mean smokie, in future episodes! ;)

Be seeing you....

I told my mom and she was like, "all you ever think about is LOST." I'm like MOM! Now I feel like I'm living in it! Maybe he came here from NY, maybe this is a side job or something.

Unfortunately, he said he had 2 daughters and his name wasn't Michael or Kevin.

It was really weird.

I'm half asleep right now so please excuse my improper English.

SECOND THING.
I think Macbeth and John Locke are alike.

1. Macbeth "depends" on the witches to guide him... Locke depends on Jacob.(they look to someone else to tell them what to do next)

2. They're both greedy.

3. They're both tyrants. (Kill people, destroy things to get what they want and feel "secure")

... Locke wants to stay on the island, Macbeth wants to stay King.

4. Tragic heroes? I think they both have more than one flaw.

There are probably a lot more... I don't feel like thinking now. I'm trying to "save my brain" for tomorrow. Tomorrow is going to be a good day!

But...I just read the USA Today Lost Theorists submissions. Nice going, Vacc!

This is a bit serious, and some may consider it a downer, but am now free to speak on the subject ...

I have spent most of my time away stressed out of my mind ... my ex-girlfriend (and I use "ex" loosely ... I'll explain) was murdered last year about this time, and the trial FINALLY took place this week in Indianapolis ...

I will try to keep this relatively short ... We dated for five years (Oct 2001 to Oct 2006), and went through a lot together (not always good, but mostly). Through it all, we always loved each other dearly, but over some period of time, she began turning to alcohol more and more to deal with personal set-backs (both mine and her own). This did not improve things, as you might imagine, and as much as I loved her, it came to a point where I felt compelled to lay down an ultimatum ... I told her we simply could not be together any longer, unless she got serious about treatment.

Don't get me wrong, this was not a first/last demand; her family and I had tried to help her repeatedly, but it never carried enough weight to encourage a change in behavior. At heart, she was the sweetest person you'd ever meet, but the drinking overcame her good nature, and I just couldn't take the mutually destructive results. It was hard to let her go, and told her I still wanted to be with her, but not like that.

She said she would show me differently, and "win me back," but dragged her feet a bit at first to do anything about it. Finally, she entered rehab at a treatment facility in NY state, and I prayed for the best.

That's not what happened. I suppose as often happens under such circumstances, she bonded with a fellow member of the program, and they left treatment "as a couple" in January 2007. She moved to Indianapolis with him, but almost immediately they both slid back to old patterns. I started getting phone calls from her at all hours, increasingly to complain about his abuse, and begging for me to take her back. Maybe I played the "tough love" card too much, but told her I held to my previous stance; I told her to leave him, and try treatment again, this time "for real." In February, he called me at 4 am and left a rambling, threatening, message on my voice mail. I saved it, and decided to no longer answer her calls, but also kept a few recordings of her future, ever more desperate calls. Not knowing what else to do, I contacted her family, and explained my position that, with or without me, she needed help.

In late March, she called me from her parents' house here in Maryland, and explained that she had finally left him for good, and was committed to setting things right. She had finally "reached bottom," and knew it. She had gotten out of Indy quickly when, according to her, he had threatened her life, as well as mine, and had left a few very personal items behind as a result. She said she was going back into treatment the next week, but wanted her things back before "disappearing" for a few months.

I told her to forget about them. She was insistent not to; among other things, mementos from our relationship were in his possession, and she just wouldn't let them go. I told her he was going to use them as bait to bring her back, but not to let that happen. I suggested she send family members out to Indy to retrieve the items, and thought nothing further of it. She asked if she could contact me while in rehab for support, and I told her of course, that would be fine. She told me the next time I heard from her, she'd be in treatment, and wanted more than anything to get into recovery, and be back with me. Although she was in Maryland, we agreed it would probably be best for her to spend her remaining time apart, and have her focus on the task at hand. This was Thursday. We exchanged a couple e-mails over the weekend, and the last I heard was that she was very excited "to get back to a sense of normalcy." I was optimistic this time.

I was wrong. Against all advice, she apparently decided to go back to Indy on Monday to get her things before starting treatment on Wednesday in NY. Unfortunately, her family was unaware of the direness of this plan. I didn't hear from her for a few days, but thought nothing of it; didn't expect to hear from her for at least a week into treatment.

On April 5th, 2007, I received a call at work from her mom. She told me Nupur had been attacked on Tuesday morning, doused with gasoline, set on fire, and burned over 80% of her body. She was dying in an Indianapolis hospital, and not expected to make it through the night. She died 40 days later, many skin grafts and antibiotic treatments later, very early in the morning on Mother's Day, while her family was out of town attending the funeral of her recently-deceased uncle; she died alone.

Immediately after the incident, her "new boyfriend," Michael Wilson, claimed it was a "barbecue accident," although the grill was found covered on the patio. But the 911 call tells a different story, and when the EMTs picked her up and took her to the hospital (still conscious, probably in shock), she told them he doused her with gasoline and set her on fire, consistent with the evidence at the scene. She apparently ran through the house, with pieces of burning clothing and flesh dripping from her body, before dousing the flames in a shower. He was arrested almost immediately, and had been in jail without bond until the trial.

When first reported in the Indianapolis media, his "friends" posted very nasty messages on-line about Nupur, suggesting she was a worthless person who deserved to die, because she was mean to him. I was livid, but had been asked by the prosecutor's office and her family not to publicly say anything about the case, lest pollution of the jury pool be brought up by the defense.

I was subpoenaed to testify at the trial, based upon my recorded voice messages. The trial was postponed over and over again, for various reasons, but FINALLY the April 21st, 2008, date was set in stone. Last week, I spoke with the deputy prosecutor, Brad Banks (who BTW apparently did a wonderful job with the case ... kudos to you!), and he informed me that my testimony would not be needed ... I had a recorded threat against me, and hearsay comments from Nupur, but no direct evidence of him threatening her life. They felt they had more than enough evidence to present without introducing any ambiguity via hearsay. I was told to stand by, in the unlikely event my testimony would be needed. As I'm a very passionate person, it was also thought my presence in the court room might prove detrimental, should I spontaneously unleash a tirade of obscenities toward Mr. Wilson. I agreed, and stayed here in Maryland for the duration. It was very difficult though.

I tried to follow the progress on-line, and saw jury deliberations had begun late yesterday afternoon. Last night, Nupur's sister called me, and told me Mr. Wilson had been convicted. His sentencing awaits in early May; whatever he gets, it will not be enough, IMO.

Here are a few links to Indy info, if you care to look:

tinyurl.com/45n7nz
tinyurl.com/3uokq9

and a few pics of us (poor quality I know, that will be rectified soon):

tinyurl.com/5szsuj

I have been torn apart with guilt for the past year, thinking about how I should have handled things differently. I will simply never be the same again. I especially feel for Nupur's mom ... I'm sure she will never again be able to enjoy Mother's Day.

Nupur's sister told me his family was very respectful at the trial, but this rings hollow to me. I will NEVER have any forgiveness for what this "person" did, and whatever his sentence, he should thank God every day for the rest of his life that I am not administering what I consider just punishment ... there are no words.

Sorry for the less than cheery post ... perhaps you now understand why I have been on edge a few times in the past. May none of you ever have to experience the gut-wrenching pain I, and Nupur's family, have had to experience over this madness.

- Erik

Wow, that is just awful. Having to go through something like this is terrible. Hang in there, though, there's plenty of happiness ahead. Just think- in the future, when you and ilovebenjaminlinusxx welcome your newborn baby into the world, all this will finally start to seem "in the past".

I hope, by sharing your story with us, it proves to be somewhat cathartic for you, although there is certainly nothing that can take away your pain.

Your suffering makes me think twice about the minor everyday complaints I have, and reminds me to be thankful for all the good in my life.

You have "friends" here, who obviously enjoy your contributions. I sometimes think this is group therapy for all of us!

I sincerely wish you all the best, and look forward to "seeing" you on the regular weekly blog.

That is such a horrible, horrible, tale. My heart goes out to you and Nupur's family. I will pray for all of you. May the trial bring some closure for you.

ealgumby -- That's really terrible. Just the thought of someone doing something like that to someone is painful.

I can't even begin to imagine what you and Nupur's family are going through.

But remember, Karma's a bitch. Let's hope "she"(karma) comes all the way back around and hits him hard.

I'm sure LIB's comment was purely innocent, just an attempt to inject a little levity and lighten things up a bit. I certainly take no offense, as I see the intent as completely otherwise.

@lovelost/53

Yes, it was cathartic, and I feel much better now that the trial is over. Although I had shared some details with friends, and let slip a few references here previously, I have keep my angst bottled up for too long. I really didn't post that with the expectation of eliciting sympathy, just to vent, if that makes any sense. Now it is time for me to start moving forward again.

Thanks to all who responded with the supportive words. It is appreciated.

@ ealgumby
Sorry I ruined that levity.

And Ealgumby -- my thoughts and prayers go out to you. I'm very sorry for your loss, grief and pain.

Ok, my mistake. But I bet ealgumby is younger than Ben Linus... (less buggy eyed looking too, and probably smells better)

And Ben's an exeption to the whole age thing.

http://www.tvfodder.com/house/

I don't watch commercials, but I press play and watch HOUSE commercials because HOUSE is awesome.

Your story moved me to tears. I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your loved one. I have been down the road of feeling the guilt of someone else's death, and I can empathize with you. Please know that you are amongst friends here. And thank you for sharing your story. I just looked at the pictures and Napur was a beautiful woman.

~Vikki

Attempting to live
A normal life, but mistrust
Shatters families.

This isn't just relevant to LOST, either, CR...great verse. Thanks!

Island lost in time
People just as lost - seeking
Purpose, fulfillment.

Hooray for interlibrary loan! (ILL)

I try to peruse the literary works that "Lost" throws our way from time to time, but recently the writers have been coming up with some not in our local (Wake County, NC) library system. But their ILL service will scour cooperating, mostly university libraries for any text you can name, and serve it up at no cost to the customer. Thus I've recently obtained copies of "The Invention of Morel" (U of Richmond), "The Survivors of the Chancellor" (U of Kentucky) and “VALIS” (U of Missouri).

I've finished "The Invention of Morel" now and would like to share a little of the experience.

First of, the titular story is actually a novella, and takes up less than half the volume, the remainder being short stories.

The book, written by Adolfo Bioy Casares, was published in Argentina in the 1930's and is clearly very advanced SF for the time. And at a time when SF was given short shrift in the English speaking literary world, the book is given a sparkling endorsement by Jorge Luis Borges, one of the major literary figures in South America.

And the themes Bioy Casares displays are dazzling - besides the title novella, his stories deal with time travel, multiple worlds, alternate histories, and other sophisticated themes that wouldn't be seen in English for some time.

Obviously time travel came earlier in H.G Wells, but I'm unaware of any English speculation on multiple worlds until much later. In particular, in one story his protagonist, a doctor, deduces that his friend, a test pilot, has traveled to and from an alternate world in his test flights from very subtle clues relating to place and people names that vary in the alternate locations. He deduces that in the alternate world, Carthage was never defeated by the Roman Empire, and that Wales had never existed.

But on to the main (and Lost related) novella.

The protagonist, unnamed, is a fugitive from justice who flees to an uninhabited island where there are abandoned buildings from an earlier settlement - a museum, a chapel, and a hotel. He ekes out a bare living from scrounging among the buildings and the meager resources of the island.

One day, a boatload of visitors arrives, a group of men and women who apparently are there to party. In particular, they spend a lot of time in cocktail parties and dancing outdoors. They do this rain or shine. The fugitive, fearful of discovery, flees to the wilderness of the island. From afar he observes the goings on, and in particular a young beautiful woman who goes to a certain high hill every evening to watch the sunset.

The fugitive falls in love with the woman from afar, and creeps closer to see more of her. He overhears enough conversation to learn her name is Faustine, and that she has a suitor in the group - Morel.

One day the fugitive sees two suns in the sky, and later two moons. He decides this is due to some heretofore unknown to him astronomical phenomena.

Still fearful of discovery, the fugitive creeps ever closer to the partiers, even into the buildings. He discovers that the power for the buildings is generated from the tides. The machinery for this is in a room with a closed door he cannot open.

The fugitive begins to plot ways to declare his love for Faustine, and meet her without scaring her. He gathers wildflowers and plants a massive portrait of her watching the sunset, placing it at the foot of the high place from which she watches the sunset. She never notices it.

One day, the fugitive listens as Morel calls all the visitors together for an announcement. He has, Morel says, developed a new machine that can record and play back whole scenes in three dimensions. And he has secretly been recording all their activities on the island and when they depart, the automatic machines will play back their time on the island endlessly repeating and giving them a kind of immortality. Some of the partiers are upset at being recorded without their knowledge or permission. One recalls the events at a facility in Switzerland where Morel was developing his machine - several people died at that time. Morel engages in some philosophical speculation as to whether an image that cannot be distinguished from the original must in fact possess a soul, and if it does, has it stolen the souls from the original - can/will the machine cause the death of the original? Are the original ‘actors’ all dead now that their souls live on in this replication?

The fugitive comes to terms with what he now realizes is the situation. Now he can freely follow his beloved Faustine throughout her day, and does so, following her into her room at night, sleeping on the rug at her feet at night.

Another thing he learns, almost causing his death, is that the ‘solid projections’ of Morel’s invention are absolutely impenetrable. If a door is closed, nothing he does can open it. If a wall is projected over the original, the original may be broken by tools, but not the projection. During a lull in the tides, the projection ceases and he uses the opportunity to go into a room that had always been closed to him and examine the machinery of Morel’s invention, but he can make nothing of it, and when the tides pick up he is trapped in the room which was closed all the time the original recording was made, and almost starves to death before another lapse allows him to exit.

The novel closes with the fugitive having become so entranced by the week-long repeating story that he finds a way to edit himself into it, walking among the projected people and entering into their conversations in such a way as their chatter seems to be responding to his.

- - - -

Relevance to “Lost”:

I still remember the exact words of Ben in ‘Through the Looking Glass’ when he was trying to convince Jack not to phone Naomi’s boat:

“Jack, listen to me. If you phone her boat, every single living person on this Island will be killed.”

Every. Single. *Living*. Person. On. This. Island.

The implication, to me, has always been that there are some “people” on this island who *appear* to be living, but are not. They are ‘projections’, perhaps, made by some means – Jacob, Smoke Monster, Magic Box, what-have-you.

Now, think about that while reviewing “Horace” and his little performance for Locke in ‘Cabin Fever’. Something causing the ‘projection’ to repeat, perhaps? Maybe it was Locke's dream, or maybe he really saw it, but it wasn’t quite what it appeared to be.

That story sounds so familiar to me... maybe I read it once upon a time.

I think you're on track with dead people who appear to be living (other than the ones we know about, like Christian). In this case, you mentioned that people are not just projections; they have a physical being that occupies space. The difference with the Others might be: they're not on a continuous loop, as they have respondent interactions with the Losties. Unless everybody is dead and looping. But I don't think so.

It would be much easier if the producers had not debunked the Purgatory theory :)

What a tragic love story this was, also.

I very much enjoyed your recap. Two thumbs up!

Uh-oh, that's four thumbs. Well, better than six, cause that would just be weird ;)