CosmicBills

That sounds right to me. But also: Danielle was on a boat and overheard the transmission of the numbers and they decided to investigate (so the numbers drew her ship to the island). Danielle also said there was a radio tower on the island. I assume that was the source of the transmission that drew Danielle's crew AND the broadcast that the guy in Australia heard (because I think he said it was 16 years ago that he first heard the numbers...that's how long Danielle has been stranded). So it's possible the Tower and the Hatch were built (or placed) at the same time. But who the hell knows. lol

The map was of the island. It had a location marked on it called (I think) the black rock. Syiad wanted to go there, but the was encrypted with the "song lyrics". But, unless I am forgetting something, I think they still have the map, they are just uncertain as to its meaning.

They were stepbrother and sister. Boone was in love with her and she used him one night to get Boone's help. I think they only hooked up once (not that that makes it any better). But the backstory was important for Boone's character development (especially his relationship w/ Locke) and Shannon's relationship with Syiad.

SPOILERS No. They do on the Season Finale though. Well, this is according to an entertainment weekly article posted here: http://www.ew.com/ew/article/commentary/0,...5714_0_,00.html Here is what the article says (according to Co-Creator Lindelof) Q: Whats the Hatch? A: The season finale focuses on openning the hatch. But it would be a spoiler to say what, if anything, they find. It had better be cool though". Q:Will we see the Monster? A:You will see at least 2 percent of the monster. It would be like seeing its toes, if it had toes. Q: Who did Boone talk to on the radio and what was said? A: In the finale, viewers will intuit the transmission's source. It's one of the most important pieces of plot for season 2. Q:Will any of the survivors die before the season's end? A: Not everybody might be coming back (talk about vague); that doesn't mean we're killing people...The finale delivers on life and death stakes. Q:Will we discover the meaning of the numbers? A: The finale's last 10 minutes focus on the numbers in a non-oblique way. The numbers bring people to the island, but the bigger mystery is 'why'?

Is there a final yet?

So you are comparing JG to Terrell Davis? Why not say he is like Joe Montana. Oh wait, that's right, because both Terrell Davis AND Joe Montana AND Tom Brady and most other late round gems have a tendency to come from big time programs. Vandy is NOT a big time program. To compare them to UGA, Notre Dame or Michigan is a joke. You also assume I am basing my assessment on JG simply on the round he was drafted. Well, I'm not. I've seen the kid play and I am being honest and objective. Your sticking up for a fellow alumn without really considering the player. I don't care how well he played in the Senior Bowl, it's one game...against college players. The kid has some talent, but not nearly enough to be starting at LT (the most demanding position on the field outside QB) as a rookie. And that is saying something since the Bills have the WORST LT situation in the entire league at the moment (Gandy? Are you freakin' kidding me?). So if JG isn't good enough to crack the starting lineup by the end of camp when the Bills have nothing but scrubs at that position, what does that say about his 'talent'? I stand by my statement. If he has to come in and start in mid season that means either someone got hurt OR the team is in real bad shape. Besides, this argument is ridiculous because JG is much better at OG than LT. That is where he has the best chance to see time this year.

She's definitley some sort of cop (or was at some point before turning crook/being framed). That was subtly given away with her conversation with the marshall before the crash. A lot was implied in ther conversation. Also, in the flashback at the bank, she was far too good of a marksman to not have had military/police training. We will find out.

If that happens, that means the Bills will be in big, BIG trouble. Having a mid round rookie from a weak school take over at LT in mid season either means someone got hurt, or everyone else was so God awful that the team is in dire straights.

Wasn't that in the Simpsons?

Keep your head up.

You can see my house in that pic...well, if you move it a smudge.

Good idea. Certainly could be the case. After all Walt really only trusts Locke and visa versa (based on their past conversations). And it fits with the Backgammon theme too (Walt always playing Locke...two sides...master vs teach....white vs black --not racially but more good vs evil). There are a lot of ways they could take that. I am not sure that's how it will go, but it wouldn't surprise me either.

I did see tonight's previews and agree they didn't give much away. I was trying to run out of the room but my girlfriend held me down:) Next week for SURE I am starting though. lol I agree with you though, it was a good episode. About the previews (I'll put in yellow in case others don't watch them) The only thing I found interesting was Walt's insistance on not openning the hatch. I wonder what he knows...what I am waiting for is when Hurley discovers his numbers on the hatch (we know that has to come at somepoint). I could see the camp splitting over openning the hatch, but I am not sure where that subplot is going.

Locke explained why (if we are to believe him at least). He felt going to a place where the woman was transmitting about people being killed by the "others" was not a safe place to lead the survivors. Personally I think he did it because he didn't want to leave the island. He said as much to Walt in a later episode. But...maybe it was a half truth? What I can't remember is whether Locke knocked Syiad out before or after seeing the 'monster'. If it was after then I would go with the theory that Locke just didn't want to get off the island. If it was before, then I would be more willing to buy Locke's excuse. But that's just me.

Over an hour has past an no one has commented on tonight's episode? Man, the board is slipping! I'm glad they got the Locke issue (from the preview) out of the way. I am back to my "no preview" stance though because it did ruin the episode somewhat. I thought it was a good episode tonight. A lot to chew on, especially with Syiad. I thought the backstory parrelled with the episode very nicely as well. Anyone else have any thoughts?

I hope you're right. But that seems highly unlikely considering the Bills have a new QB and the worst left side of the offensive line in the NFL. Oh, plus the Bills play NE on Sunday night (we all know how those national games turn out). NE will finish the year 5-1 in the AFC East, but I don't think that loss will come from Buffalo. My money is on a split with the Jets.

Do you think anyone in the AFC East has a legit shot at taking the division title from them? Won't be the Dolphins or the Bills (rebuilding and too many ? for both) That leaves the Jets, while I think they will be good, I don't know if they have enough to beat the Pats. If no one in the AFC East can beat them, then that makes it a certainty that they will be in the playoffs yet again.

True. Just seem odd that the ceiling is stuck on the number 3 person.

Isn't this like the 3rd #3 man from al Qaeda we've captured? How many #3 men can one organization possibley have? Just seems odd.

Law hardly played (didn't seem to slow them down) and Phifer was a situational player who was in decline. Same with Brown. He was a stop gap at CB (a position they addressed and upgraded) and not much more than a 3rd down WR for the past two years. All those players have replacements ready to fill in. Patten led the team, but is no where close to the player Givens is. Plus with young studs like Johnson and Sam mixed with experience guys like Dwight, and Terrell, Patten won't be missed. As I said before, they haven't lost anybody of any import aside from Bruschi (who, by the way, may still play this season).

But honestly, what players did they lose that have any real impact besides Bruschi?

1. The stretch was against medocre at best teams. When push came to shove, the Bills lost to a bunch of 4th stringers AT HOME in a must win game. That loss put the above mentioned stretch in harsh definition. (i.e, maybe the Bills weren't as good as that record) 2. The Bills have a 2nd year Head Coach. I think he will be a good one, but it is far too early to call the staff one of the best in the league. 3. They HAD the number 1 special teams last year and still only won 9 games. Besides, last year's rankings mean nothing. 4. Again, they HAD the number 2 defense and still didn't make the playoffs. The year before the Defense couldn't get the Bills above 6-10. AND, last year's rankings mean nothing. 5. Willis is good. Time will tell if he's great. But it's very hard to run behind a bad offensive line. And the Bills line is worse than it was last year. 6. WR duos don't mean much if the QB doesn't have the time or ability (due to lack of experience, not lack of talent) to throw the ball. Factor in that the Bills have ZERO healthy TEs, and you take away another option from JP. 7. McNally couldn't turn turds into stars his last few years in NY. And his turds in the Big Apple (like Pettigoute) were better than the crap we have assembled on the left side of the line. Coaches can only do so much. The Bills line is in trouble. 8. There are no easy games in the NFL. If you think the opener is going to be a walk in the park, refer back to last year's opener that everyone assumed would be a gimme. 9. The Bills have a FIRST YEAR STARTER. Truth is no one knows how good the kid will be. No one. While it's possible he could come in and be great from the start, the precentages say he will struggle (as 99 percent of all first year starters do) and put up lesser numbers than Drew last year. JP, despite his apparent talent, is still a HUGE question mark. To assume otherwise is just insane. 10. The Bills didn't gain anyone either. Both lines are worse than last year (although I have confidence in Anderson/Edwards filling in on D). And last year's Bills team wasn't that good to begin with. Again, the Bills have more questions than answers at the moment.

You may be right. I hope you are. But I don't see it happening. Put it this way, if BB is able to win another ring without Romeo or Charlie, that would cement his legacy as the best coach in the history of the league. Maybe that is what motivates him to see it through? God, I hope I'm wrong.

The fan in me says the Bills have a good shot at going 10-6. But that is just the fan. Looking at it from a realistic perspective, the Bills are staring down the barrel of a 6-10 season. They will regress this year. Most first year starting QBs make too many mistakes to make the playoffs. Big Ben is the exception, not the rule. People thinking JP will come in and be able to manage the games like Big Ben did are mistaken. Pittsburgh had a MUCH better team than the Bills do this year. That talent masked a lot of Big Ben's growing pains. JP won't have that luxury. I don't know who can honestly say the Bills Offense is in better shape than it was last year. I think JP should start this year (I am not a Drew appologist at all), but there is a good shot he will make MORE mistakes than Drew did last year. Factor in the Bills have probably the worst LT situation in the entire NFL, and now you are throwing your franchise QB to the wolves in his first year. Do you really think an OL of : Gandy/Anderson/Teague/CV/Williams is BETTER than last year? Gandy is a sive and Anderson can't pass block. AND there isn't a healthy TE on the roster (except Nuefeld). The Defense will be fine and keep the games close. Expecting a repeat in special teams is a stretch, they will be good, but not as great as last year. So, let's review: Worse offense than last year (and that offense wasn't that good to begin with). Good defense, good special teams, first year starter at QB. That sounds an awful lot like a 6-10 season to me...at best. Obvioulsy I am longing to be wrong, but this team has a ton of holes to fill come September 11.