I recall the exact moment I knew the storytellers on Lost had lost their way.

For those not familiar with the show - Lost revolves around a plane crash on an island where miraculous healings, smoky monsters, mystic magnetic auras, and ghost-like Others from the jungle happen every week. Something mysterious is going on, and the pleasure of the show is seeing the mystery unfold.

(Minor spoilers ahead for those who haven’t seen season 3 of the show.)

One of the plot lines this season revolved around three characters (Hurley, Ben, and Locke) finding a mysterious cabin which held the even more mysterious “Jacob.” Jacob is set up as a shadowy but godlike figure, who gives directives to the mysterious Others and apparently orchestrates (or is involved in) all the otherworldly phenomenon of the island. Several episodes set up the idea that if Locke reaches the cabin and talks to Jacob, all the answers will be revealed.

Because this is a TV show, it takes an ENTIRE SEASON for Locke to reach the cabin. However, with three episodes left, Locke finally reaches the cabin. With about five minutes to go in the show (a sure sign that a cliffhanger is coming), he lights a lamp and enters. He sees darkness, and a figure in a rocking chair greets him from the shadows. He raises the lamp, moves closer, and the figure leans forward, to show that it is in fact…

NOT JACOB.

So, no answers for that show. No larger mysteries revealed. In fact, Locke’s meeting only raises new questions (and thus plot threads) which need to be resolved before the show’s end next season.

When I saw that Jacob was not there, I knew the writers of Lost were treading water. Locke had met the goal that had been set up over about three story arcs on the show, and STILL there was no resolution

There’s only one more season, and I’ve watched every episode so far, so I’m hooked for the duration. Hopefully by the end of the show we’ll get to see Jacob more closely, and get answers to the questions.

In this video, singer/songwriter Feist discusses the nature of alpha and beta waves.  The interviewer asks why she hasn’t had a TV in over a decade, and she mentions active thought (reading books) vs. passive thought (absorbing TV signals).

Some quick research on Google brought up this information (bolding mine):

 There are four categories of these brainwaves, ranging from the most activity to the least activity. When the brain is aroused and actively engaged in mental activities, it generates beta waves. These beta waves are of relatively low amplitude, and are the fastest of the four different brainwaves. The frequency of beta waves ranges from 15 to 40 cycles a second. Beta waves are characteristics of a strongly engaged mind. A person in active conversation would be in beta. A debater would be in high beta. A person making a speech, or a teacher, or a talk show host would all be in beta when they are engaged in their work.

The Brainwaves

The next brainwave category in order of frequency is alpha. Where beta represented arousal, alpha represents non-arousal. Alpha brainwaves are slower, and higher in amplitude. Their frequency ranges from 9 to 14 cycles per second. A person who has completed a task and sits down to rest is often in an alpha state. A person who takes time out to reflect or meditate is usually in an alpha state. A person who takes a break from a conference and walks in the garden is often in an alpha state.

The next state, theta brainwaves, are typically of even greater amplitude and slower frequency. This frequency range is normally between 5 and 8 cycles a second. A person who has taken time off from a task and begins to daydream is often in a theta brainwave state. A person who is driving on a freeway, and discovers that they can’t recall the last five miles, is often in a theta state–induced by the process of freeway driving. The repetitious nature of that form of driving compared to a country road would differentiate a theta state and a beta state in order to perform the driving task safely.

Individuals who do a lot of freeway driving often get good ideas during those periods when they are in theta. Individuals who run outdoors often are in the state of mental relaxation that is slower than alpha and when in theta, they are prone to a flow of ideas. This can also occur in the shower or tub or even while shaving or brushing your hair. It is a state where tasks become so automatic that you can mentally disengage from them. The ideation that can take place during the theta state is often free flow and occurs without censorship or guilt. It is typically a very positive mental state.

The final brainwave state is delta. Here the brainwaves are of the greatest amplitude and slowest frequency. They typically center around a range of 1.5 to 4 cycles per second. They never go down to zero because that would mean that you were brain dead. But, deep dreamless sleep would take you down to the lowest frequency. Typically, 2 to 3 cycles a second.

Full article at: http://www.web-us.com/brainwavesfunction.htm

Intriguing - this is a good way to think about the mental activities going on during the day.  It sounds like the “ideal” state is to generate beta waves, use theta waves while relaxing, and minimize theta waves.

Teaser for the new Legion of Superheroes, season 2:

Strange - looks like there are now two types of Supermen. Maybe one is the goody two shoes Silver Age, and one is a more modern or futuristic version.

Also, a relatively content-free teaser for the “New Frontier” cartoon with the DC superheroes:

Okay, not to overwhelm this blog with postings about the Sopranos, but this viral ad for Hillary Clinton’s campaign song is pretty clever.

Bob Harris (the Jeopardy champion) offers a fascinating interpretation of the Sopranos finale, pulling in the Cathlolic Mass, the Last Supper imagery, and the Godfather movies.

The Washington Post adds even more hints on the Catholic Mass imagery in the episode.