Sorry, another LOST post

I was just corresponding with Pops about how the "sides" are lining up as we draw nigh to what appears to be a developing large-scale war on LOST, and how Desmond as a time-traveling wild card may fit into it, and how coming events may draw closer together or even the fuse the two time lines. Then I was thinking about the differences for the characters in the two time lines, how many appear to have attained happiness they lacked in the original time line. But then I realized nearly just as many are still miserable in the flash sideways. Then I thought, perhaps that is indicative as to which side they are positioned in on the island. Let's examine this idea as I think through it via public writing:

(Note: The "team" on which I've placed them does not necessarily indicate their allegiance, simply their most current physical location under the command of one or the other.)

Character	On Island	Flash Sideways
Jack	Team Jacob	Has son; overcame daddy issues; happy
Sawyer	Team MIB	Alone; parents still dead; unhappy
Hurley	Team Jacob	Still rich; lucky/successful; happy
Sayid	Team MIB	Still a killer; still not with Nadia; unhappy
Ben	Team Jacob	A teacher; caring; didn't kill dad; happy
Kate	Team MIB	Still on the run; still alone; unhappy
Claire	Team MIB	Still preggers w/o dad; still stood up by adoptees; unhappy
Sun	Team Jacob	Still with Jin; not leaving him; happy?
Jin	Team MIB	Still working for Mr. Paik; locked in freezer; unhappy?

Of course, omitted from this table are Locke, Charlie, Daniel and everyone else who is dead on-island (it's difficult to determine their state of happiness); as well as the Wildcard, Desmond.

On island, he was for nearly his entire episode under the control of Team Jacob, via Widmore; but at the end, he apparently was kidnapped by Sayid, so his status is a little unclear. Further, off-island, for most of the episode, he would have fallen under the category of "happy," but appears to be the first of the remaining players to realize that such sideways happiness may not be true.

But even if this apparent parallel indicated something about the relationship between on- and off-island (alternate) happiness, what is it? Those under MIB's control seem to be unhappy off-island. Those under Team Jacob appear to be happy, but that happiness appears to be truly empty. I guess nobody wins in the flash sideways.

Thoughts as to how this might shape an exodus from the flash sideways back to the island? Some other related or unrelated theory? Please share in the comments section.

Hot Celebrity News

The Hartford-Northampton corridor in which I live most of my current life has been the site of much national news lately. From the arson spree in Northampton to the tragic bullying case just miles away in South Hadley, the record flooding in Connecticut and last night's national championship victory for the UConn women's basketball team, our little neck of the woods has been turning heads recently.

But two recent and otherwise overlooked local news items caught my eye. One is about an national award-winning photograph by a young up-and-comer, the other about a young woman making a difference by helping confront an important and timely social issue.

Here's a scan of the first one, from Sunday's edition of the Hartford Courant:



And the second, from the April 2 issue of the Springfield Republican:



In other news, I just enjoyed my first soda in a month and a half, and found it incredibly sweet. Also, last night's episode of LOST was the best of the season. Comments are welcome on any of the above topics.