Punked...

September 29, 2005 1:41 PM

Numbers Theory on LOST OK I admit it - I took the bait on the LOST numbers theory only to find this genius made the whole thing up in ten minutes. Does anyone have a Neiman Marcus chocolate chip cookie recipe?
posted by Macboy (93 comments total)

Marsille Roussau being a horrible way to spell names like Marseille and Rousseau should have been your first guess.
posted by Robot Johnny at 1:46 PM on September 29, 2005

I was scared to read that post because of spoilers. However, I will be happy to turn this into a discussion of how much I love Lost. Last night's episode kicked ass.
posted by poppo at 1:50 PM on September 29, 2005

I don't know anyone who actually bought into the theory...but good on him for the effort.
posted by Mach3avelli at 1:51 PM on September 29, 2005

Last night's episode sucked balls. It makes me want to not watch it until the season's over so I can watch all episodes in one quick blitz. I feel like a mule being walked around with a dangling carrot before me, only my tongue can barely reach the tip.
posted by Mach3avelli at 1:53 PM on September 29, 2005

I hope Abrams doesn't lose me with LOST like he did with the fiasco called Alias...
posted by Macboy at 1:55 PM on September 29, 2005

By far the most brilliant show on TV right now. I've never watched a drama that has me so riveted.

perhaps time to update your blog then Mach
posted by poppo at 1:56 PM on September 29, 2005

The logo is the Ba Gua. Each of the eight sides of the octagon have a unique 3-bit sequence. They represent:

• Health and Well-Being
• Love and Relationships
• Career
• Wealth and Prosperity
• Family
• Creativity and Children
• Knowledge and Wisdom
• Fame and Reputation
• Helpful People

The logo is for DHARMA. It has a snake through the middle, reminiscent of a yin-yang.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 2:06 PM on September 29, 2005

I'd like to meet the person who made this, as I've spent far more time freaking out about it than ever I did on Brillo.
posted by WolfDaddy at 2:06 PM on September 29, 2005

Sorry, Family and Health are one item.

The octagon has 8 sides. Thecomputer is, of course, 8-bit.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 2:11 PM on September 29, 2005

WolfDaddy: What's the context of that? What is the sound from?
posted by bDiddy at 2:13 PM on September 29, 2005

WolfDaddy, how was that audio made?
posted by Pretty_Generic at 2:13 PM on September 29, 2005

The logo is the Ba Gua -- reproduced here -- and appears last night on the wall of the lair, as well as on the foodstuffs in the room in which Kate is locked...and on the fin of the shary which attempts to attached Michael and Sawyer at sea.
posted by ericb at 2:13 PM on September 29, 2005

By far the most brilliant show on TV right now. I've never watched a drama that has me so riveted.

perhaps time to update your blog then Mach

I don't think what I wrote has anything less to do with me adoring this show. Of course I'm going to end up watching it every week, just slow torture.
posted by Mach3avelli at 2:14 PM on September 29, 2005

Also -- from last night's episode "Adrift" -- Desmond has Locke enter into the computer the now (in)famous sequence of numbers (4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42) - resetting a timer to 108 (the sum of these numbers which also appears in the center of a sun mural painted on the wall of the lair's entryway).
posted by ericb at 2:16 PM on September 29, 2005

The computer is, of course, 8-bit.

Basis 108. Man, I hate how everyone "sees' the numbers everywhere, but that one was pretty good.
posted by 23skidoo at 2:17 PM on September 29, 2005

*fin of the shark*
posted by ericb at 2:17 PM on September 29, 2005

I can't take the commercial breaks. Not to mention the complete lack of real content. all they did is tell the same story is last week from differing perspectives.

99% of that content could have been assumed or implied, yet they saw fit to make us watch another 30minutes of commercials just to see the "Alternate" scenes from the season premier.

I love the show, but I'm sick of the marketing. I'll wait till it starts it's repeat season, then record the hell out of it. FF is your friend.
posted by DuffStone at 2:24 PM on September 29, 2005

I believe the numbers ward off the disease; they are a lucky charm like the ba gua, yet of course they make nearby people (even relatives) unlucky.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 2:25 PM on September 29, 2005

Other observations (and not sure if they are of any significance) -

* The toy Michael gives to the toddler-age Walt is a toy polar bear.

* The candy bars which Kate takes from the lair's storeroom appear (from their wrapper) to be Cadbury (hence - British) products.

* When challenging Locke as to whether Locke "is him," he poses the question: "What did one snowman say to the other snowman?"

* When Desmond asks how long it has been since the plane crash of Oceanic 815, Locke says "44 days."

I agree -- the plodding pace is maddening -- but trying to unravel the puzzles, symbolism and obvious philosophical underpinngs (i.e. [John] Locke versus [Jean-Jacques] Rousseau) keeps me enthralled.
posted by ericb at 2:25 PM on September 29, 2005

I love the show, but I'm sick of the marketing

BitTorrent is your friend
posted by Pretty_Generic at 2:25 PM on September 29, 2005

People watch this sort of drivel? Who'd a thunk it.
posted by signal at 2:26 PM on September 29, 2005

* The candy bars which Kate takes from the lair's storeroom appear (from their wrapper) to be Cadbury (hence - British) products.

Not in a million years. They're "Apollo" bars, which don't appear to exist on the net.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 2:27 PM on September 29, 2005

"What did one snowman say to the other snowman?"

Do you smell carrots?
posted by Pretty_Generic at 2:27 PM on September 29, 2005

I love the show, but I'm sick of the marketing

TiVo can also be your friend.
posted by ericb at 2:27 PM on September 29, 2005

People watch this sort of drivel? Who'd a thunk it.

Nope! No one watches this show. There is no market for it. There is literally not a single person in this entire world that watches "Lost". No sir. Not a single one.
posted by jimmy at 2:28 PM on September 29, 2005

*Desmond poses the question*
posted by ericb at 2:28 PM on September 29, 2005

bDiddy and P_G, there was a thread at thetailsection.com that claimed to be authored by someone who worked sound on the show, and had put that clip in subliminally buried in--I think--the sounds the "monster" makes. That thread isn't working though. Hmmmm.

Also, someone's tied the different logo on the shark to this.
posted by WolfDaddy at 2:30 PM on September 29, 2005

Still waiting for WolfDaddy here.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 2:30 PM on September 29, 2005

wait, no. no I'm not.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 2:31 PM on September 29, 2005

This is actualy a dupe. I'm to lazy to look up the orgional thread.
posted by delmoi at 2:32 PM on September 29, 2005

WolfDaddy, I can't see how the logo is connected to the Project, can you explain?
posted by Pretty_Generic at 2:34 PM on September 29, 2005

Philosophical underpinnings?! Surely you jest. They just gave those characters those names to screw with us.

As an illustration: What is there, precisely, about John Locke the character that is reminiscent of John Locke the philosopher? Other than both being english-speaking white males. ("I'm a man of faith; you're a man of science," he says to Jack.)

As for that particular "numbers theory" -- exactly who was "punk'd" by it? Just about everyone here immediately recognized it as made-up. The only thing we were arguably "punk'd" on was thinking that it came from Abrams, somehow. The "theory" itself, of course, is a piece of inconsistent mumbo-jumbo that sounds like something Mervy, The Schizo On The Corner made up to entertain the passers-by.
posted by lodurr at 2:34 PM on September 29, 2005

They're "Apollo" bars

Are they? When I saw the brief flash of the wrapper I thought I recognized it -- and assumed it was a chocolate bar from my childhood in the UK. I wonder if there is any significance to the particular product.

BTW - great riddle answer. Yeah -- they're using carrots to string us along.
posted by ericb at 2:35 PM on September 29, 2005

P_G, I meant by "tied" that someone tied the page itself to the logo, not necessarily information about The Montauk Project to the logo.

Could be a plant by the show's staff, could be a nutty fan, either way, intriguing.
posted by WolfDaddy at 2:42 PM on September 29, 2005

could be a nutty fan

No could about it
posted by Pretty_Generic at 2:45 PM on September 29, 2005

P_G, the fan's not nutty because they "made up" the Project, if that's what you're asserting.
posted by WolfDaddy at 2:53 PM on September 29, 2005

The fan's nutty because they give no link between the project and the logo
posted by Pretty_Generic at 2:55 PM on September 29, 2005

Bah, that fan is just as nutty as everyone else who thinks that they've figured out what any of the 50,000 unsolved mysteries the show has hinted at. I mean, just from reading up about the Montauk Project, apparently these things are rumored to have happened there:

People had their psychic abilities enhanced to the point where they could materialize objects out of thin air.

Mind control experiments were conducted and runaway boys were abducted.

A "porthole in time" was created which allowed researchers to travel anywhere in time or space. This was developed into a stable "Time Tunnel".

An alien monster traveled through the time tunnel, destroyed equipment and devoured researchers.

There's not a link between the project and the logo, there's a link between the project and the script. Psychic abilities? Check. People seeing stuff that's not there? Check. Abducting boys? Check. Aliens? Check. Dudes who appear to be from another time period? Check.

At least Montauk Theory Guy appears to be watching the show, instead of pulling theories out of his ass.
posted by 23skidoo at 3:06 PM on September 29, 2005

Aliens? Check

Pardon?
posted by Pretty_Generic at 3:10 PM on September 29, 2005

Okay then, monsters.
posted by 23skidoo at 3:12 PM on September 29, 2005

I'm fairly confident the monster is made of nanobots. Sentient smoke.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 3:14 PM on September 29, 2005

I agree in that I felt last night's episode was a rather wasteful rehash of last week's. Of course, I'm sure they're going to use clues from the rehash to advance the plot. I think it'd have been easier to just do a two hour premier instead of this nonsensical rerun + new episode thing they have going.

So is that shark perhaps another part of the "defense" system like the black mist from last season?
posted by Atreides at 3:22 PM on September 29, 2005

I read the post too quickly and thought main link was about number theory. Worst misuse of the word "theory" evar.
posted by ikalliom at 3:24 PM on September 29, 2005

I haven't really watched television in about four years - but a friend insisted that LOST was good, so I got the first season.

It's okay.

I mean, it still has all the limitations of broadcast television. It would have been better to see HBO or the BBC do it. Also, I really think that 20+ episodes per season is just overkill. This show could have been wrapped up in 8 or 10 episodes and been masterful. As it is it's just going to drag on and on as long as there is ad revenue to milk ala X-Files.

Furthermore, I get the distinct feeling that the writers are just sort of pulling things out of their ass. I know they are supposed to have a LOST "bible" to keep them on track, but reading how they wrote actors in at the last minute and made up whole new tangents during the first season doesn't give me a lot of faith that the show is going to maintain its initial quality.

I think it'll be one of those things where in it's third season most rational people will be bored with it and it'll become strictly the domain of the fanboys - again, ala X-Files.
posted by wfrgms at 3:35 PM on September 29, 2005

I hated Lost after watching almost all of season one. I felt like I was watching american olympic coverage without the athletic competition. Every character overcoming hurdles blah blah blah...

I felt like Jerry Springer was going to appear to deliver a sermon. Ms. Lily has lovely freckles though.
posted by srboisvert at 3:36 PM on September 29, 2005

macboy: I hope Abrams doesn't lose me with LOST like he did with the fiasco called Alias...

Oh, you know he will.

This has all the hallmarks of the classic Abrams TV show trajectory. (Semi)-intriguing set-up. More and more complicated plot shenanigans, eventually indististinguishable from screen-writers digging themselves into a deep, deep hole.

Next thing, Abrams will lose interest, the network will draft in a whole bunch of new writers who have never seen a TV show before, and these people will then tie the whole thing up with all the cogency of a high-schooler in the last five minutes of a written exam.
posted by Sonny Jim at 3:37 PM on September 29, 2005

Personally, I find it hard to understand how someone could not enjoy Lost, given the quality of the script. It's true that it requires some investment of time, but the ratings speak for themselves as far as that's concerned.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 3:40 PM on September 29, 2005

Abrams isn't even particularly involved with the individual episodes, as far as I know.. There's really nothing for him to lose interest in. Damon Lindelof and the rest of the writing team can handle it on their own just fine.
posted by jimmy at 3:40 PM on September 29, 2005

Or, to epitomize what Sonny Jim says: when Giachhino's scoring worsens, start to worry.
posted by WolfDaddy at 3:41 PM on September 29, 2005

Next thing, Abrams will lose interest

I think you're overstating the importance of Abrams; Lost is very much a committee job.

Anyway, I just think this one is special.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 3:41 PM on September 29, 2005

People watch this sort of drivel? Who'd a thunk it.

Everyday I thank GOD we have signal to show us the way.
posted by eyeballkid at 3:50 PM on September 29, 2005

Everyone should watch Veronica Mars on UPN (preferably drinking Pepsi Blue at the same time) instead of Lost.
posted by gyc at 3:53 PM on September 29, 2005

eyeballkid writes 'Everyday I thank GOD we have signal to show us the way.'
Yeah, you guys lucked out that way.
posted by signal at 4:06 PM on September 29, 2005

No, seriously signal, could you tell us what we should be watching? Or do you not have a TV?
posted by eyeballkid at 4:15 PM on September 29, 2005

I bet your so cool you don't have a tv. I bet that's it! I wanna be like signal!
posted by eyeballkid at 4:16 PM on September 29, 2005

My favorite LOST tidbit so far was when someone on a fan forum pointed out that down in the hatch, Desmond has a bottle of "Tide, with Bleach Alternative" on the washing machine. Oh, WHAT COULD IT MEAN???
posted by gimonca at 4:17 PM on September 29, 2005

It makes me want to not watch it until the season's over so I can watch all episodes in one quick blitz.

That's always best. First, because you can find out if the show ended up sucking before you waste the time, and second, because it does endeed provide satisfying entertainment without the "left hanging" part.

My wife and I did this with the first season of 24. Worked like a charm. Watched the first episode of the second season as soon as it aired, didn't like the way the episode ended, and thought "well, f--- it then" and never tuned back in.
posted by davejay at 4:20 PM on September 29, 2005

I bet your so cool you don't have a tv. I bet that's it! I wanna be like signal!

You're. You're. A thousand times, you're. As in You are. Contracted to you're.

snarky, I know, but I just HATE that
posted by davejay at 4:24 PM on September 29, 2005

Too bad davejay ... the 2nd season of 24 was the best for inducing high blood pressure.
posted by WolfDaddy at 4:27 PM on September 29, 2005

I love the show, but the little nagging thing that gets me is the extras. It's one sign (among a few others) that the producers can't go full out making a truly different show, they have to keep that convention. Isn't it a little awkward to live on a desert island and not meet some of the people you're with? Wouldn't you get to know everyone really fast?
posted by zardoz at 4:34 PM on September 29, 2005

Sigh. You set a trap to draw someone in and some other dimwit takes the bait.
posted by eyeballkid at 4:38 PM on September 29, 2005

kill your television.
posted by mrgrimm at 4:45 PM on September 29, 2005

and listen to ned's atomic dustbin!
posted by jimmy at 4:58 PM on September 29, 2005

Wouldn't you get to know everyone really fast?

It's the clique effect - all the beautiful people stick together. It was already referred to by the late beloved Arzt; I'm cool with it.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 5:01 PM on September 29, 2005

davejay - like you and your wife I did the same with "24." The first season was enough. Second season's first episode just didn't clinch me.

Let's hope "Lost" can keep most of us engaged by pacing the story, its "reveals," as well as backstory -- and not frustrating us so much that we abandon it.

I can understand the desire of some to forego watching the season(s) "in real time" and deciding later whether to watch it/them on DVD later. I had that experience with "Band of Brothers" (as at the time of original airing I didn't have HBO). It was a "lost -- and much appreciated -- weekend" when I watched the entire series of that television program.
posted by ericb at 5:25 PM on September 29, 2005

Does everyone hear the numbers being spoken in WD's sound link? Cause it only took me like 20 listens in wavelab...
posted by jikel_morten at 5:26 PM on September 29, 2005

I'd like to meet the person who made this, as I've spent far more time freaking out about it than ever I did on Brillo.

my firefox on os x (tiger) does not want to play this "unrecognized playlist format" for me . . .
posted by kingfisher, his musclebound cat at 5:38 PM on September 29, 2005

Ok, the fist part of the sound says "4 8 15 16 23 42". The second half of the file is in reverse. If reversed it sounds like 'Why do need to know it's on?'. Whatever thats worth...
posted by jikel_morten at 5:39 PM on September 29, 2005

It's an mp3...strange.
posted by jikel_morten at 5:39 PM on September 29, 2005

First. That's.
posted by jikel_morten at 5:40 PM on September 29, 2005

Weird. When I listen to the 2nd half of the audio, I hear "Walt is the one who is free now" followed by a very satanic sounding "THAT'S NOT TRUE". Brrrr.
posted by WolfDaddy at 5:53 PM on September 29, 2005

Does everyone hear the numbers being spoken in WD's sound link? Cause it only took me like 20 listens in wavelab...
posted by jikel_morten at 6:07 PM on September 29, 2005

what the? Sorry bout that. Here's the last half. I've reversed it and slowed it down some. Linky.
posted by jikel_morten at 6:09 PM on September 29, 2005

I removed all the static and crap. I picked the left speaker, and doubled it, to make it easier to hear. The second voice isn't reversed, although it kind of sounded like it with all the static in there. I think it says "4 8 15 16 23 42, Walt is the one you should be afraid of. That's not true."

[/omg I have this awesome theory]
posted by 23skidoo at 7:07 PM on September 29, 2005

Ok that's bizarre. I hear your version, (which makes sense), but I hear a sort of british accent in the reverse version (which doesn't seem to have any relevance). Is it just me?
posted by jikel_morten at 7:16 PM on September 29, 2005

Freaky. If this isn't a "real" clip buried from somewhere within the show, someone spent a lot of time to make it up. Brrrr².
posted by WolfDaddy at 7:17 PM on September 29, 2005

nice job 23skidoo
posted by jikel_morten at 7:17 PM on September 29, 2005

My favorite LOST tidbit so far was when someone on a fan forum pointed out that down in the hatch, Desmond has a bottle of "Tide, with Bleach Alternative" on the washing machine. Oh, WHAT COULD IT MEAN???
posted by gimonca at 7:17 PM EST on September 29 [!]

Well, I thought everything down there was old, late 70s/early 80s stuff, but the washer and dryer were both very modern front loaders. That kind of leaves me scratching my head...
posted by jikel_morten at 7:22 PM on September 29, 2005

Nice work, 23skidoo. Totally legible now, thanks.
posted by Gamblor at 8:22 PM on September 29, 2005

Personally, I find it hard to understand how someone could not enjoy Lost, given the quality of the script. It's true that it requires some investment of time, but the ratings speak for themselves as far as that's concerned.

As a general rule, I don't watch TV, but kudos for LOST, definitely makes me want to watch TV on Wednesday nights. Sitting here in the world of REALITY TV, I have to say it's a great diversion. And interesting.

I for one can't wait to see what happens when Desmond realizes Jack is a friend. I'm overseas right now and made a special effort to watch this on sattelite. Can't wait to get back to the States and watch it, adverts and all, on regular TV, and wait for the next week, and the next....
posted by WaterSprite at 8:31 PM on September 29, 2005

Fantastic work 23skidoo. Now, is there any way we can make certain that the original file really is the noise of the monster?
posted by Pretty_Generic at 8:51 PM on September 29, 2005

Wuttduhyuh bet signal is one of those weirdos that still reads books.
**looks around for torches and pitchforks**

Show some confidence in yourselves people. Who cares if someone else thinks what you like is drivel??
posted by spock at 8:58 PM on September 29, 2005

P_G: the thread I mentioned has reappeared here, but all references to the person working sound on the show, and where you could actually find the clip in the show, have been, um, eliminated, so the clip's veracity is either more or less suspect depending on your paranoia level.
posted by WolfDaddy at 9:18 PM on September 29, 2005

I think you know what I'm gonna say :D
posted by Pretty_Generic at 9:44 PM on September 29, 2005

No, it's nothing about your wife
posted by Pretty_Generic at 9:45 PM on September 29, 2005

I don't believe the soundclip stuff at all. If you reverse it and mess with speed/pitch/whatever it never sounds like anything more than some backwards speech.
posted by jiroczech at 3:33 AM on September 30, 2005

I'm not sure If I've just listened to it too many times and am hearing things that aren't there, but I can't NOT hear it at this point. "Why do you need to know it's on?" is all I hear (in the reversed version).
posted by jikel_morten at 6:43 AM on September 30, 2005

The problem with Lost is that if you miss an episode you really are lost.
posted by easternblot at 7:36 AM on September 30, 2005

Unless it was last week's episode.
posted by 23skidoo at 8:21 AM on September 30, 2005

So, in this post that is about how information about Lost was totally (though cleverly) faked in ten minutes by some kid on livejournal, we get an audio file of unverifiable origins and we immediately buy that it is genuine. Boy, we're dumb.
posted by notmydesk at 9:28 AM on September 30, 2005

No one here has said that they think this is genuine.
posted by 23skidoo at 9:32 AM on September 30, 2005

We were just having fun with a random, possibly authentic clip. Don't assume you know what we assume.
posted by jikel_morten at 10:38 AM on September 30, 2005

The second episode was in effect only a rehash of the first one, plus the stuff from the raft.

Disappointed? Yeah
Intrigued? Hell yeah.
posted by flippant at 7:23 AM on October 2, 2005