The fourth season finalé of Lost airs this Thursday. Here are my thoughts on what we can expect in that two-hour episode and beyond. None of these are all that original or insightful, but here goes...
1) The Orchid station is the teleprotation station. I'm not 100% sure, but I think we might have Ben teleport from that station right into his fast-forward in Tunisia that we've already watched. (Remember, he has to ask the hotel clerk the year.)
2) Claire has me stumped. There's obviously something more than a daddy-daughter reunion going on. Otherwise, its completely inconsistent with all of her previous behavior for her to leave baby Aaron. I'm guessing that she's seeing a level of importance to her role with Jacob and Christian that we can't yet appreciate.
3) So far, Kate and Jack come closest to being the two characters that come closest to having the capacity of living happy lives (but that's not really saying much). That seems to be the true constant "everybody hurts" (with apologies to Michael Stipe and the boys from REM). Hurley- hurtin'. Sayid- happy with Nadia- then hurtin'. Sun- happy with the baby but hurtin' for Jin (who I'm not yet convinced is truly dead). Michael- not really all that happy, as he's suicidal and guilt-ridden. Ben Linus- hurtin' and grieving. I fear for Penny and Desmond...
4) This week, we should finally get to see the temple and maybe start to understand the others and the "hostiles". People have lived on that island for a long, long time. Why? Where? How? What's their connection and importance to the rest of the world? When will I stop aking so many questions?
B.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Refreshingly Honest Admission About Guantanamo Bay
[From the BBC]
The US is "stuck" with the Guantanamo Bay detention centre even though it wants to close it, Defence Secretary Robert Gates has said. Mr Gates said the US wanted to send up to 70 prisoners home but countries would either not take them or could not be trusted to.
Human rights groups have long argued for its closure, saying it does not meet international legal standards. The prison in Cuba currently has about 270 detainees...
Democratic Party Senator Dianne Feinstein told Mr Gates: "Nothing you have said absolves the enormous loss of credibility we have in the eyes of the world...
[The underlining is mine. Read the rest of the article here.]
The US is "stuck" with the Guantanamo Bay detention centre even though it wants to close it, Defence Secretary Robert Gates has said. Mr Gates said the US wanted to send up to 70 prisoners home but countries would either not take them or could not be trusted to.
Human rights groups have long argued for its closure, saying it does not meet international legal standards. The prison in Cuba currently has about 270 detainees...
Democratic Party Senator Dianne Feinstein told Mr Gates: "Nothing you have said absolves the enormous loss of credibility we have in the eyes of the world...
[The underlining is mine. Read the rest of the article here.]
Monday, May 19, 2008
Lost Factions Post-Rescue
Lost Factions Post-Rescue
Originally uploaded by Binky's Photos
And, this is as much as I can sort out about what happens with Lost factions after their rescue.
B.
Lost Factions Pre-Rescue
Lost Factions Pre-Rescue
Originally uploaded by Binky's Photos
This is my best try at keeping it all straight. Groups, factions and allegiances on the island, pre-rescue.
B.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Lost: Ep. 4.12 "There's No Place Like Home Part 1"
Because I can be an old-before-my-time crank, I was actually pretty worried about how Lost would fare this year. The idea that Season 4 would be as exciting, "twisty" or thrilling as the second half of Season 3. I never should have worried. Season 4 has been great and last night was no exception.
The reunion scene with the families of the "Oceanic Six" was well done and quite touching. The best part was Kate looking around, knowing that no one would be there, but looking all the same. There's already some buzz on the Internet about the scene where Jack learns the "truth" about Claire being his character's best scene.
The Oceanic Airlines representative was played by Michelle Forbes, one of my favourite actors. She was Ensign Ro on Star Trek: TNG and Admiral Helena Cain in Battlestar Galactica. I'm a fan.
B
The reunion scene with the families of the "Oceanic Six" was well done and quite touching. The best part was Kate looking around, knowing that no one would be there, but looking all the same. There's already some buzz on the Internet about the scene where Jack learns the "truth" about Claire being his character's best scene.
The Oceanic Airlines representative was played by Michelle Forbes, one of my favourite actors. She was Ensign Ro on Star Trek: TNG and Admiral Helena Cain in Battlestar Galactica. I'm a fan.
B
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Lost: Episode 4.11 "Cabin Fever"
1) My brain hurts...To re-cap, the following people are now dead: the ship's doctor, Gault (the ship's captain), Rousseau, Carl, and in a while Jin will die.
2) On the might be dead/might be something else list: Claire, Christian Shepherd, and Charlie (although we really do know that he IS dead).
3) Its Claire that has me really stumped. At first, I thought maybe she was dead. Now I don't think that's the case. But, what could be important enough to make her want to stay away from Aaron?
4) One theory, I'm pondering is whether Ben and Widmore are assuming leadership of two factions that pre-date either of their association with the island. How else could there be "rules" between them (including, until now, not harming each other's families) unless they had inherited or assumed roles established by other people. If we think that there have been people on the island for a very loooong time, why couldn't there have been two factions vying for control for a long time?
5) When will Ben double-cross Locke (again)?
B.
2) On the might be dead/might be something else list: Claire, Christian Shepherd, and Charlie (although we really do know that he IS dead).
3) Its Claire that has me really stumped. At first, I thought maybe she was dead. Now I don't think that's the case. But, what could be important enough to make her want to stay away from Aaron?
4) One theory, I'm pondering is whether Ben and Widmore are assuming leadership of two factions that pre-date either of their association with the island. How else could there be "rules" between them (including, until now, not harming each other's families) unless they had inherited or assumed roles established by other people. If we think that there have been people on the island for a very loooong time, why couldn't there have been two factions vying for control for a long time?
5) When will Ben double-cross Locke (again)?
B.
Quote of the Day
"President Bush has an exit strategy for just one man - himself on 20 January, 2009."
Democratic Senate Majority Leader
The Free-Range Child
(From the Globe and Mail:)
Back to Basics: Raising an 'unhurried child'
The free-range child
"No flash cards. No swimming lessons at three months. No hand-holding. Just a whole lot of unstructured time. A growing number of parents are espousing a radical philosophy: It's time our children got some life skills by actually living ..."
[Read the rest of the article here.]
B.
Back to Basics: Raising an 'unhurried child'
The free-range child
"No flash cards. No swimming lessons at three months. No hand-holding. Just a whole lot of unstructured time. A growing number of parents are espousing a radical philosophy: It's time our children got some life skills by actually living ..."
[Read the rest of the article here.]
B.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Whoa, Hydrogen... Not So Fast
Continuing my general theme of skepticism towards "too good to be true/helpful" environmental themes, here's an article that suggests hydrogen powered vehicles will not be in every driveway for Christmas.
Hydrogen Cars Won't Make a Difference for 40 Years
In some ways, I think we're all attracted to the idea of hydrogen powered vehicles because we can imagine them as actual cars or trucks, albeit with radically different engines burning a different fuel. This stands in contrast to some recognition that an all-electric vehicle will come with compromises in size and weight at least for a few technological generations.
B.
Hydrogen Cars Won't Make a Difference for 40 Years
In some ways, I think we're all attracted to the idea of hydrogen powered vehicles because we can imagine them as actual cars or trucks, albeit with radically different engines burning a different fuel. This stands in contrast to some recognition that an all-electric vehicle will come with compromises in size and weight at least for a few technological generations.
B.
Friday, May 09, 2008
Squirrel on Shed 1 May 5 2008
Squirrel on Shed 1 May 5 2008
Originally uploaded by Binky's Photos
My nemesis... He goes in and out of our shed at will. He (she?) makes nests in our barbecue. He chatters noisily at me when I clear away the nests in some vain hope of actually getting to use the bbq.
He is, however, quite fun to chase with the hose when in the company of a 4 year old.
Summer must be coming,
B.
Interesting Article on Biodiesel Boat
From Wired.com:
The eco-conscious adventurers trying to circumnavigate the world in a carbon-neutral biodiesel trimaran are approaching Puerto Rico, where they'll take on more fuel, fix the toilet and repair an inspection hatch that flooded their sleeping quarters with biodiesel. Despite the problems, Earthrace has covered 4,200 miles since leaving Sagunto, Spain, on April 27. The team is making its second attempt to circumnavigate the globe in record time and has braved 18-foot seas since leaving the Azores last week.
"Big waves come racing in and crash-tackle us," Earthrace skipper Pete Bethune said, according to the New Zealand Herald. "Earthrace shudders and rocks as the ... cabin goes dark and we submarine through each wave. Controlling Earthrace in head seas is like trying to control an angry bull."
The broken toilet and two inches of biodiesel sloshing around the sleeping quarters probably didn't make things any easier. [To continue reading, click here.]
I have to admit that I'm actually fairly skeptical of bio diesel. Fuel from food waste (especially forestry by-products) is not a bad idea, but my understanding is that biodiesel is a pretty "dirty" fuel. When you burn it, it pollutes like regular diesel, that is more than a comparable gasoline engine. I know cleaner diesel has been "right around the corner" for a number of years now, but until its here and it can come from surplus biological sources, I'm not on-board.
Ahoy,
B.
The eco-conscious adventurers trying to circumnavigate the world in a carbon-neutral biodiesel trimaran are approaching Puerto Rico, where they'll take on more fuel, fix the toilet and repair an inspection hatch that flooded their sleeping quarters with biodiesel. Despite the problems, Earthrace has covered 4,200 miles since leaving Sagunto, Spain, on April 27. The team is making its second attempt to circumnavigate the globe in record time and has braved 18-foot seas since leaving the Azores last week.
"Big waves come racing in and crash-tackle us," Earthrace skipper Pete Bethune said, according to the New Zealand Herald. "Earthrace shudders and rocks as the ... cabin goes dark and we submarine through each wave. Controlling Earthrace in head seas is like trying to control an angry bull."
The broken toilet and two inches of biodiesel sloshing around the sleeping quarters probably didn't make things any easier. [To continue reading, click here.]
I have to admit that I'm actually fairly skeptical of bio diesel. Fuel from food waste (especially forestry by-products) is not a bad idea, but my understanding is that biodiesel is a pretty "dirty" fuel. When you burn it, it pollutes like regular diesel, that is more than a comparable gasoline engine. I know cleaner diesel has been "right around the corner" for a number of years now, but until its here and it can come from surplus biological sources, I'm not on-board.
Ahoy,
B.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Super Girl Looks for Shells and Rocks May 4/08
Super Girl Looks for Shells and Rocks May 4/08
Originally uploaded by Binky's Photos
One of the reasons I'm glad that we live where we do is the short distance to the beach. Ten minutes and we can have sand under our feet.
B.
Action Girl May 4/08 at Beach
Action Girl May 4/08 at Beach
Originally uploaded by Binky's Photos
We love the beach this time of the year. You have to bundle up for the wind, but there are no crowds... More time to explore.
B.
Monday, May 05, 2008
1980s Now Legal in Cuba
According the the BBC, its now legal for individual Cubans to own computers. Here's a reminder that the Cuban regime (sans Castro) continues to be very repressive. More importantly, it fears dissent and free thought. Governments that fear their own people are worse that governments that are merely autocratic.
Its been easy for many people of the centre-left/centre like me to excuse the lack of democracy, citing health care and education. Freedom matters, democracy matters.
Lets hope that the Internet can do its democratizing magic (although we may need to be patient with China).
B.
Its been easy for many people of the centre-left/centre like me to excuse the lack of democracy, citing health care and education. Freedom matters, democracy matters.
Lets hope that the Internet can do its democratizing magic (although we may need to be patient with China).
B.
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