LOST Answers Few Questions

There are those who haven’t watched an episode, others who’ve viewed the odd show from time to time but weren’t hooked and then there are folks like me who have been devoted fans of the television show LOST which wrapped up its 6th and final season Sunday night with a two and a half hour finale.

Since the very first episode I’ve never missed one installment of this amazing television experience. The story, although confusing and misleading at times has been compelling and I don’t regret watching it for a minute.

The characters and their story lines are what powered the show plus always being left with questions at the end of each episode. We all wondered “what was in the hatch”, “what was the smoke monster”, “how come Richard never aged” and “where the hell did the island disappear to?”

Of course the biggest question was how did these people survive a plane crash after the aircraft broke up in midair and then find themselves on this mysterious island? Well, as we found out on Sunday night, they didn’t survive after all and have been dead the whole time.

Here’s my take on what happened. The plane crashed and killed everyone on board. But for the passengers we’ve followed all along, they weren’t ready to pass on into heaven and they needed a common experience to prepare themselves for the journey into the white light of Heaven. Does that make any sense? Ya, I’m still confused as well.

There’s no denying that LOST was an amazing television drama with amazing characters, plot lines, action, adventure and it kept me captivated and craving more for six full seasons. But my feelings are mixed on how the whole thing came to an end. In fact, I said about four years ago that if in the end we find out everyone died and they’re in purgatory or limbo waiting to pass on to heaven, I would be pissed off. Well, that’s pretty much what happened and while I’m disappointed, I’m not exactly pissed off because the finale was still well done.

Despite the fact the finale was fun to watch, I think the producers and writers for LOST took an unimaginative and predictable way out to end the show. The only way they could have made it worse was to have Jack wake up in his bed at home and say, “Hmm, it was all just a dream.”

Having said all of that, I know millions of LOST fans are now left with unanswered questions. Here are a few of mine.

1. If the smoke monster was created by going into the cave where the light source was located, how come Desmond and Jack never turned into a smoke monster when they went in?

2. Why did Ben not go in the church at the end and move on like the rest of the survivors did?

3. Why weren’t Michael, Walt and some of the other survivors who were on the island at the church? Were they not real to begin with?

4. Desmond and Penny weren’t on the plane so why were they there? Were they in limbo from some other accident?

5. What exactly was Richard’s role in all of this? Were he and Lepidus there only to help the survivors come to terms with their deaths and assist them into heaven?

6. When the plane took off, what happened to it?

7. Did Hurley actually take on the role of Jacob and Jack for any length of time but we just didn’t see it? Sounded like it when he talked to Ben.

8. How did Desmond figure it all out?

9. When Jin and Sun were in the hospital and had the flashback to their time on the island, how did they know to attend the concert?

I have a lot more questions and like a lot of other fans, I’ll be searching the web for possible answers.

LOST was a great show and those who didn’t watch it missed out on some excellent television viewing. But I understand that some people need their entertainment spoon fed to them and must have everything wrapped up and making sense at the end of each episode. Some people don’t enjoy having to think when they watch television. Lord knows there are plenty of crap shows on TV.

I’m going to miss LOST and the entertainment it provided. There are other shows on television which try and live up to LOST’s high standards but so far none of them have grabbed hold of my attention enough to keep me hooked like Jack, Sawyer, Kate, Hugo, Locke, Ben and the rest of the Survivors / Deceased of Oceanic Flight 815 did.

Rest in Peace

Survivor Finale Flops

I’ve been a fan of the “Reality TV” show Survivor since season one. Some seasons are better than others and some casts can be more interesting and entertaining but I have enjoyed each and every show. Plus I won’t lie, watching some sexy young women in barely there bikini’s bouncing around on a beach is quite enjoyable as well.

When I think back to the first season of Survivor, it was groundbreaking entertainment and something fresh and new. The first winner was Richard Hatch who of course went on to enjoy fame and jail time for tax evasion after winning the 1-million dollar prize. Of course, had the show really been about survival, I have no doubt that in that first season Rudy Boesch the ex Navy Seal would have easily won. He could have killed them all on the first night. But of course the game isn't really about that.

The game of Survivor is set up so that in order to succeed and ultimately win the game, you need to avoid being voted out by your fellow tribe members and in the end receive votes from the jury.

Up until recent seasons I have been mostly satisfied with the chosen winners. Those who schemed, lied, cheated, outwitted and outplayed usually were rewarded for doing what they had to do to win. A few times the odd person skated through by doing nothing and won and that has bothered me a little.

Nowhere in the rules of Survivor does it state you must play the game with honesty and integrity to win and as witnessed in numerous past seasons, the person who schemed the most was given the title as sole survivor and the million dollar prize to go with it.

Jury members were able to put aside their bitter feelings of being outplayed and outwitted and realized that the game play of someone who might have taken a less honourable route should be rewarded because they played the best game to get them to the end. You may not like how they did it but they got the job done.

Sadly, during the last two seasons, the Juries have wimped out as Russell Hantz has clearly been the better player and made it to the end in both of his seasons. He lied, schemed, bullied and basically ran the show by getting people to do what he wanted, yet despite being what I would consider the best Survivor player ever, he has never won.

After the worst jury ever on Season 19 failed to award the top prize to Russell because they couldn’t get past their bruised egos, I thought for sure when Russell made it to the end during this Heroes vs. Villains finale he was a lock to finally win. I was wrong.

I figured with a group of Survivor veterans casting the votes on the Jury, surely they would be able to recognize the nominate play of Hantz and give him the victory he not only deserved but earned.

Boy was I wrong and so were they. Neither Parvati Shallow nor Sandra Diaz-Twine (the winner of season 20) deserved to win. And among those two, Sandra was the least deserving of all. She never won a challenge, was physically inferior to everyone else and had no social game at all. Parvati was at least a strong competitor in the challenges.

Quite simply, Russell got screwed again because he had a hand in almost every person on the jury being voted out and rather than applaud his superior game play, they gave the money to a much less worthy individual.

For the record, who wins and who loses only ruins the end of the game and show for me. Sure I’d like to see the most deserving person win but as long as I enjoy the season as a whole then I’m satisfied. I just think this season they had a chance to get it right and they blew it. Sandra gets her million and I’m sure she can use it and Parvati gets her 100-thousand dollar prize for finishing second.

Russell is left sitting there shaking his head having played the game perfectly but knowing that the one part of the competition he can’t control did him in once again. The consolation for Russell is the knowledge that for the second season in a row he was awarded the 100-thousand dollar prize voted by the fans as Player of the Game. At least the fans knew who the best player in the game was.

The Thrill of Victory

I’m not going to sit here and pretend that I knew all along that the Montreal Canadiens would win their first two playoff series this year and advance to the Conference Final.

Sure, like all Habs fans I was hoping and even praying for it but after the way they limped into the post season, I had my doubts that they’d even win a game or two against Washington.

Of course, not only did they win a game or two but they won three straight games to oust this seasons President’s Trophy winners in seven games. The look of disbelief on the faces of Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau and Alexander Ovechkin reminded me of those MasterCard commercials…Priceless.

That isn’t to say I don’t like Boudreau or most of the Capitals and I do think Ovechkin is a very talented and exciting player to watch but I was thrilled to see him shutdown by the Habs and sent packing.

Ovechkin plays like a spoiled kid with little respect for the traditions of the game. His on ice celebrations are a slap in the face to his opponents and totally unnecessary. A fist pump, raising your arms in the air or hugging your teammates after a goal is perfectly fine. But there’s no need to go jumping into the glass or jump on the backs of your teammates unless you score the game winner in overtime of a playoff game. That’s something worth getting excited about. I think Ovie may have celebrated a bit too hard during the regular season because he had nothing left in the tank during the first round.

After whipping the Capitals the road didn’t get much easier for Montreal as they had to face Cindy Crosby (not a spelling mistake) and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Just when I thought Crosby had matured as a player and was starting to respect him more, his constant whining, embellishing and complaining to the officials was beyond annoying. Once again, he’s also a player that can be very fun to watch and I’ll be the first to admit; I wanted to kiss him on the lips after he scored in overtime against the U.S. to win the Gold Medal at the Vancouver Olympics, but the incessant bitching when things didn’t go his way was nauseating to watch.

Now I’m not saying that Montreal is a better team on paper than both the Caps and Pens but the Habs did what they needed to in order to secure victories in both seven game series. The key to any underdog having a fighting chance is goaltending and Montreal has had that in abundance. Jaroslav Halak has clearly been the star of these playoffs so far. Just when you think he can’t make a better save, he comes through one more time.

Aside from the goalie, the Montreal defence has gone through injuries, viruses and resorted to calling up a young player from Hamilton of the AHL in P.K. Subban. He has stepped into the injured Markov’s skates and not missed a beat for such a young and inexperienced player. It’s no wonder the fans at the Bell Centre chant his name when he’s on the ice. Hal Gill was a player I yelled at all season. Of course he never heard me since I was only yelling at the TV but you get my point. Gill seemed to make the biggest gaffs in the regular season at the wrong times but this post season, “No Skill Gill” has quickly turned into a puck blocking machine.

Mike Cammalleri has also picked up his game at the right time and currently leads all goal scorers with 12 in the post season.

The Canadiens haven’t advanced this far in the playoffs since 1993 and we all know what happened that year. Will it happen this time around? Only time will tell. One thing is certain… this is a fun time to be a Habs fan.

Canada Goes To The Birds

I’ll admit it; I had no idea that Canada doesn't have a national bird. Of course, it wasn’t exactly something that was high on my priority list of things to think about. But now that I’ve given it some thought, I think it’s about time we picked a bird to represent our country and it appears others feel that way as well.

A movement has begun to choose the bird that will best represent Canada.

We have national sports with both hockey and lacrosse and national…OK, I only can think of the national sports right now but I’m sure we have other national things.

So what bird should we choose to represent our great country?

The front-runner, according to any of the articles I’ve read, is the Red-tailed Hawk. This isn’t a bad choice as it can be found in almost all areas. Plus they look cool and rather majestic when they’re soaring on air thermals while hunting for food. It was a good idea, until I heard that Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty liked it. He just had to throw his support behind it because it had Liberal red in the name. Does the Hawk also lie when it makes promises to not raise taxes? If so then I guess it would be a good representative of the Liberals. It won’t get my vote.

I believe there are a few other possible choices that are being overlooked.

How about the “Common Loon?” Canadians are known the world over as being funny and with our Loonie for currency I think it could make a nice match. Plus the call of the Loon is a loud, wailing laugh or yodel which fits in with that theme as well. And the colours of the Loon are political party neutral so nobody can claim it backs one side over another.

The “Canada Goose” is too obvious. Sure they look cool when they’re flying in formation but when you get a whole flock of them in one place on the ground, well, lets just say you don’t want to be caught in your bare feet. No I think we'll pass on the Canada Goose because I think it's too obvious as well.

A bird with some attitude and solid work ethic might also be a good representative of Canada. The “Pileated Woodpecker” comes to mind. Found all across the lower half of Canada, no other woodpecker that I know of can knock the crap out of a tree like the Pileated one. It’s large like the country with a black body and red crest and cap on the head. Plus when it’s done attacking a tree, just like the Canadian Forces, it doesn’t leave any bad stuff behind.

When I get right down to it and after much consideration, I believe there’s one bird above all others that would be an excellent choice as our national bird. That winged representative would be the “Osprey.”

A bird of prey, the Osprey lives exclusively on fish and of course fishing is a huge part of Canadian industry and culture. It’s a beautiful and graceful bird like most Canadians. It’s a fairly large raptor growing up to 61cm (2ft) in length and has a wing span up to 183cm (6ft). The bird is white and brown in colour and can be found soaring on thermals between wing beats. Yes, I think the Osprey would be a great representative of our country.

To be honest, it came down to a choice between the Osprey and another much smaller bird. I thought the “Mourning Dove” would be a good choice, but then I remembered how much I want to kill them in the mornings when I’m trying to sleep and all I can hear is that annoying repetitive sound they make. It makes me want to rip my ears off. Ya…I think the Osprey was the better choice.

Wings and Breasts

All these years I’ve been writing this blog and not once have I talked about one of my favourite restaurants and the controversy surrounding it over the years.

Perhaps the reason why I haven’t talked about it is because there isn’t a franchise located within 100 kilometres of where I live. I would like to see that issue rectified sooner rather than later.

The eating establishment of which I speak is none other than Hooters.

OK, I know what you’re thinking and yes I do like it because there are usually some very attractive young ladies working as servers there but that isn’t the only reason. It’s just 95% of my basis for liking it.

Sure the gals in their tight uniform tops and skimpy orange shorts are easy on the eyes. Yes they are often times testing the strength of the fabric that contains their ample…assets, but just because they work there doesn’t mean they aren’t intelligent, educated women with more to contribute to the community than a bit of jiggle and some giggles.

When you think of Hooters you obviously think of the possible sexual exploitation of these women but when some feminist argues that they are being treated as objects, how come the girls working at Hooters don’t agree?

It’s a job like any other and the ladies who work for Hooters know full well that they’re not only selling food and merchandise, but they’re also selling themselves to some degree. They’re selling their personality, friendliness and looks and this can translate into more generous gratuities from their customers. This is no different than any other eatery.

While the eye-candy and décor may be nice, the food they serve must be tasty as well. Of course at Hooters you’re not going to get the same food you’d expect at a fine dining establishment. Instead, I’d say its quality is comparable to a Kelsey’s or Boston Pizza. The wings have always been a favourite of mine.

And for the record, I’ve eaten at both Kelsey’s and Boston Pizza and the female wait staff there can be equally attractive with a little less skin showing. But the sex appeal of Hooters is obviously part of the selling point and the experience you expect. And for that, I’m thankful.

Unlike those other restaurants, Hooters also creates a buzz with their annual swimsuit calendars, bikini contests, charity car washes and of course their huge beauty pageants.

But for some reason, Hooters has been looked down upon by the less open-minded members of our society. In this day and age I’m still shocked by how people can become flustered and upset by the female form and a bit of cleavage. I mean…come on…they’re only boobs for crying out loud! The only reason I’m attracted to them is because I don’t have any. Or at least mine certainly aren’t as nicely sized and shaped. In Europe it’s no big deal and here in Canada women are allowed to sunbathe topless if they choose…although most are still a bit too shy.

If I had the cash and opportunity I would love to own and operate a franchise in my area and I think it could do quite well. It’s an enjoyable family restaurant where anyone can be proud to stand and pronounce to the world…I love HOOTERS!

Stunned Philly Fan

A few nights ago in Philadelphia, a young man, perhaps encouraged by his friends or under the influence of too many Budweiser beverages, did something that is both frowned upon but not exactly uncommon.

Wearing his National League Champions Phillies t-shirt and holding what appeared to be a white towel, this young fan made a bad decision by jumping on to the field after the seventh inning and started to run around.

We’ve all seen this before, some drunken buffoon looking for attention or thanks to a dare by his buddies, hops over the fence and goes for a jog. On rare occasions the individual can have his fun and quickly disappear back into the crowd.

I remember attending a Toronto Blue Jays game in the early 90’s when a young man wearing only an athletic support ran on to the Skydome turf, ran over to Outfielder George Bell and then bounded over the low fence back into the crowd. The security people had an idea where he was but by the time they got there the fans were all pointing in different directions to throw them off and the semi-streaker had found his clothes and looked like any other Jays fan.

Such was not the case for the young man on this night in the land of the Philly Cheesesteak. He was quite agile and able to elude the grounds crew and security but there was one police officer who was not going to let him get away.

Luckily for the young man the cop didn’t pull his gun. But unfortunately for this trespassing fan, the cop did remove his taser or stun gun from its holster and took aim on the fleeing individual. With a pull of the trigger the red-shirted law breaker was quickly shocked with electricity, fell to the ground and was subdued by those in pursuit.

So the question that arises is, was this too aggressive on the part of the officer? For years people have made it almost a right of passage to interrupt a game by being an idiot and running on to the field, only to be tackled and hauled away to baseball jail a short time later. Rarely is anyone ever injured.

That isn’t to say injuries haven’t occurred. I recall two tattooed morons attacking a first base coach one time before the entire team came to his rescue. In this day and age, I suppose you never know what people’s intentions are. And it’s likely wise to err on the side of caution.

So, I believe not only was the use of the stun gun not a bad idea but I think if this became the preferred method of dealing with these yahoo’s, they might think twice before acting in such a foolish manner.

I’m quite sure that had the dummy in Philadelphia known what was coming, he might have taken the white towel he was carrying and waved it in the air to surrender before having his convulsive experience.