Another mind-warping episode of Lost last night.
We're flash forwarded into a future of Jack + Kate playing mom and pop to Aaron. 
We get the privilige of seeing Jack try to guide his own appendectomy. And conversly, as Rose points out, we are asked: why would the island harm a castaway?
We lose Claire in the middle of the night.
We learn that Charlotte speaks and understands Korean.
We learn Hurley thinks the Oceanic 6 are dead.
And we learn Sawyer chose to stay on the island.
Let's start with Sawyer. He's playing out of character, altruistically helping Clarie-an and Miles get back to the camp. On their way to camp Miles uncovers the bodies of Carl and Rousseau, reminding us all of his Sixth Sensian aptitude.
Question that comes from this: Could Claire be dead, but still "existing" on the island in that Christian Shepherd sort of existence? Why else would Miles be so into her? Blonde baby-mammas don't seem to be his type.
Charlotte speaks Korean, which can be written off as a byproduct of all her Dharma-hunting globetrotting, or something a bit more. Maybe, like the Widmore freighter crew, she works for Sun's pop. Dad's can be so protective of their daughters -- and so tough on son-in-laws. Could papa Sun and Widmore be in some sort of tycoon club, and in cahoots?
Jack and Kate are living together raising Aaron. Jack is back working too hard and Kate hangs out at parks with other moms and is helping Sawyer with something (in all likelihood an innocent something). But Jack quickly reverts back to paranoid, insecure Jack. He's unable to trust, self conscious about his ability to play dad and still stressing over the Red Sox (damn you, A-Rod!).
Now, flash-forwarded back-to-his-old-self Jack is helping people with back tumors and as mentioned, working too hard. Juxtapose this with his appendectomy and we're reminded once again that struggle of a surgeon: you can remove an unnecessary, yet faltering organ and all can be well, but you can't remove unnecessary, yet faltering personality flaws. Jack just can't reform. He can't stop playing the role of hero, guardian, over-protective doc. Plus, he's still got his daddy's vices -- booze, painkillers and rage. So, while Jack plays the role of leader pretty well on the island, he still can't lead himself out of his papa's shadow and the crippling characteristics that come with it. Lost's characters are complex!
But the most fun part of last night was Hurley, who thinks the Oceanic 6 are all dead, which is hard to write off considering all the twists and turns the series has been through. I think there's a connection here to Ben and Widmore's convo in the last episode. Ben can't kill Widmore, people who die aren't really dead (Charlie talks to me, tells me about upcoming visitors, duh) and people who we thought were dead show up not just on the island, but in the future, too.
As usual, the episode offers some answers (we know Losties are still alive on the island in the future) and lots of questions (what the heck is Hurley talking about; why is Kate helping Sawyer?). Forum is open.
On to the best blogs ... around!
The four-games-out-of-first-in-the-NL-East Nats win again last night and guess who was behind the plate? Will Nieves. Maybe that's what has McNotables trying to figure out just how to flush Carlos Delgado out of the Mets lineup.
Has America lost its sporting edge on the world scene? Between hoops, hockey and baseball, we're no longer top dog in international competition. Blog 2.0: North Harbour examines why.
So the Minnesota Wild aren't playing anymore. It's OK for Tangletown, USA because the blogger is satisfied knowing this: the Wild have the best fans in hockey.
The Red Sox welcome the first-place Rays into town. As you let that statement soak in, check in on Red Sox Rewind's take on yesterday's game.
Klick of the Day
For an in-depth examination of last night's Lost, check in on Doc Jensen. He takes you to Wonderland. (EW)
