Can Ben Die?

 

    If you missed LOST on Wednesday night ("He's Our You"), stop reading!  Then, go order it via ABCONDEMAND now!  If you did see "He's Our You," you saw what was arguably one of the "Bomps" the whole fifth season.  By "Bomp," I mean that sound that occurs at the end of the episode when the word "LOST" appears.  You all know what I'm talking about!  There is a big surprise, then "BOMP!"

    Now that you understand the vocabulary of LOST, let's look at the ending.  Sayid shoots a twelve-year-old Ben Linus in order to prevent Ben from ever becoming one of the Others, from ever getting caught in the tree as "Henry Gale," or from ever meeting the passengers of Oceanic 815.  Assuming Sayid is able to change the past (we will talk about this debate in a moment), this would have huge ramifications in the show.  Think about it.  Ben would never show up.  Walt would never be kidnapped.  Michael would never kill Libby and Ana Lucia.  Alex would be alive.  The list goes on and on.  Ben not being alive might even mean the passengers of Flight 815 would never land on the island (if we would eventually find out that he had something to do with the crash). 

    My friend Jeff and I constantly fight about whether or not someone can "change the past."  According to the island's time-travel expert, Daniel Faraday (where has he been?), you cannot change the past.  If something happens in the past, it happens and that's it.  Meaning if Sayid shoots a twelve-year-old Ben, then the child must survive the gunshot wound and when Ben met Sayid back in season two, he knew that this was the man who shot him back in 1977, even though we, the audience, did not see it until season five.  When you think about it, it's pretty much taking the "flashback" idea one step further.  Ben just knew something before the audience and the other islanders.  What else is new?

 

    If I am correct and the past can somehow be changed, it doesn't really matter in the case of Ben's death.  He can't die.  Though a little more confusing and complicated, it is almost impossible to kill someone in the past, especially out of revenge.  Bear with me.  I will try to put this as simply as possible.  Circa 2000, Sayid meets Ben and gets very upset about things Ben does (that is really simplifying it).  So when Sayid travels back to 1977, in an attempt to prevent Ben from doing these things, Sayid shoots Ben at a young age.  Fine.  Let's say that young Ben is now dead.  If he is dead, then he cannot grow up to perform the acts that upset Sayid so much, therefore taking away Sayid's motive to kill him.  This means that the Sayid of circa 2000 would not shoot the young Ben when he travels back to 1977.  Now young Ben is alive.  Now he can perform the "bad acts."  Now Sayid will go and kill young Ben ... and the cycle would continue.  Confused?  Read it again.  You'll get it.

    What does this mean for LOST?  I predict that, like my friend Jeff says, Ben will survive the gunshot wound.  It will turn out that Ben recognized Sayid the whole time as the man who shot him when he was twelve.  This would explain how he knew Sayid was a "killer."  Either way, the writers of LOST have not disappointed in delivering great television that keeps us guessing at every turn. 

 

    Some other questions I expect will be answered in the next few episodes:

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  Where are Bernard and Rose?  Good theory from Jeff: somehow they traveled back to the time where the statue was standing and got stuck there.  They will eventually die and become the "Adam and Eve" skeletons.  My theory (though not as strong) is that they also travelled to 1977 and now are members of the "Hostiles" led by Richard. 
  
  
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  How is Desmond going to get back to island? 
  
  
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  Is Penny dead?
  
  
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  Where are Lupidus and Sun?
  
  
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  Where is Faraday?
  
  
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  Remember when John Locke was alive?  What's he up to?

    

    So many questions left to be answered.  I am still betting that John Locke and Ben Linus are brothers.  I also hold on to the theory that Desmond will kill Ben (the adult Ben) at the end of this season, avenging Penny's death at Ben's hands.  Season Six, despite the disappointment of the audience, will be Ben-less.  This also fits with Jeff Jenson's - LOST column-writer for Entertainment Weekly - theory that the seasons are repeating themselves.  He often speaks of season four repeating season three and five repeating two, so if season one is going to repeat itself in season six, Ben should not be present.

 

    Please share with me your thoughts and theories!  As crazy as it is, I never seem to tire of this!  Looking forward to next Wednesday!

 

 

An Astonishing Feat

 

    Okay, so I tend to be a musical theatre snob.  It's true!  I admit it.  But if you knew the people that I went to college with, you'd understand why.  We were all snobs!  I started my time at Muhlenberg College thinking Jekyll & Hyde was a terrific musical.  Things had to change.  Eventually, someone has to teach you that Frank Wildhorn and Andrew Lloyd Webber are no good.  It's a hard fact to face, but it's the truth.  *Side note: I still listen to Jekyll & Hyde ... I call it my guilty pleasure.

    You can only imagine the fear that went through my body when my friend, Jessica Berger, told me that she was in a production of Little Women at the historic Strand Theatre of Lakewood, New Jersey.  I remember when I found out the Strand was doing Little Women.  I thought, "What?  Wildhorn's Dracula wasn't available?"  Terrible show!  I mean terrible!  The show ran on Broadway for 55 previews and 137 performances.  I was "lucky" enough to see one of those performances.  Forgive me, please!  Sutton Foster was starring and I just couldn't resist!  She's just terrific!  Anyway, I couldn't believe what I was seeing.  There were more happy and upbeat songs in this production than Forever Plaid.  If I remember from high school, wasn't Little Women a sad story?  Am I not supposed to cry when the young Beth dies (sorry to those who have not read it, yet ... but get on that!)? 

    Anyway, Jessica Berger has been a friend for many years.  A talent rival when we were young, but nevertheless, a friend whose talent I can't help but admire.  She can act, dance, and sing better than many of the "professionals" I've seen on the Great White Way.  She texted me one day and said (all in caps), "I'M PLAYING JO IN LITTLE WOMEN AT THE STRAND!!!"  My reaction was a mixed feeling of happiness and illness.  While I loved the prospect of hearing Jessica sing "Astonishing" (the power-ballad that makes the show possibly worth seeing), I felt sick thinking I was going to have to sit through that show again!

    Months went by and I honestly forgot about the production.  She would text me occasionally, but I didn't pay too much attention.  You know when you know you should see something, but you don't want to, so you kind of ignore it?  Sort of like when you didn't really want to see Slumdog Millionaire, but you just knew you "had to see it."  Anyway, signs were all over town and people were telling me good things.  I hate it when people say good things about bad theater.  It's just depressing.  I also received about four Facebook messages a week reminding me (and a bunch of other people) to see the show!  Thanks for those, Jess.

    Anyway, I finally planned a night to see the show.  It was sad to walk into the theater and see that the entire balcony was empty, as well as a good portion of the orchestra.  This sadness was combined with a little satisfaction.  I felt like finding the producer and saying, "I told you so."  Nevertheless, I grabbed a seat in the front of the balcony, even though my seat was in the orchestra.  I wanted to sit alone and away from the stage in case I fell asleep.

    The lights finally went down and the overture began.  Already, I was bored.  Then Jessica appeared on stage.  She began to sing and I was reminded why I sacrificed a Friday night to see Little Women: The Musical.  Her voice was miraculous; she rivaled Sutton Foster, one of my favorites on Broadway.  The real pleasure was thinking back to her performances in high school and seeing how she has grown so much in seven years.  She was always a talented girl.  Looking back, I was often jealous of her.  Being a boy, it was easier for me to get attention because I could sing.  But this girl, Jessica, got attention even though she was a girl - a dime a dozen.  But the truth was she was anything but just another singing female.  She did have her problems; she had a weird thing where she threw her hands in the air and walked around back and forth when she sang.  Still, it was obvious that she would go somewhere.  After graduating high school (two years after me), she ended up attending the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, despite my advice to attend a four-year college.   

    I still cannot help but think that she would be better off with a degree like me.  But then I think about the fact that she is actually trying.  She auditions.  She works.  She struggles.  But she keeps pushing.  I admire her very much.  I can't be easy to be so talented and not get the respect and admiration one deserves.  I know that she will be something someday.  Though I know it can't always be easy for her, I admire her dedication and determination.  But most of all, I admire her talent and her willingness to hone her craft.  She never stops learning, which is the most important thing about being a performer.  Though I rarely miss performing and love being a teacher, seeing Jessica reminds me of the joy I experienced when I was on the stage.  Maybe someday, if Bonnie and I ever start a theater like we talk about doing, we'll invite Jessica Berger to come and play Annie Oakley and perhaps I'll be worthy to be her Frank Butler (we should have in high school, but our director was blind to the obvious).  That is, unless Jess is too big of a star to come to Bucks County to entertain.  The New York audiences might miss her too much!

    When the Act I finale, "Astonishing," began, I was propelled to the edge of my seat.  She had me with every word and every note.  The audience was captivated.  It was stunning.  All readers can hear the beautiful rendition at the link below - I taped it with a digital voice recorder.  I defy you to not marvel in the voice.  Though you'll hear the acting, it's nothing compared to watching the emotional performance live. 

    While I know Jessica experiences disappointments along the way - and she will experience more to come - I hope that she never gives up her dream of being a performer in bigger and better venues.  It would be a huge waste of talent, skill, and entertaining nights for audiences all over the world.  Furthermore, she fixed the throwing-of-the-hands thing!  She didn't do it once the whole night!  Congratulations, Jess.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QANf7vsa4qI

 

 

 

 

 

Visit to H&R Block

    Tax season!  It's part of that old expression: The only definite in life is death and taxes.  We all have to pay them, as soon as we start working.  I was fortunate.  My father had an accountant who just "got it done."  I never knew what was going on.  I didn't really care.  Would you?  I usually would get a small refund check of about $300.  To a teenager, that's like Christmas!  To a married adult, that's like ... well, Christmas!

    Since I was just married back in December of 2008, the time has come that I get my own taxes done.  My father's accountant was getting a little expensive, so I thought, why not try H&R Block?  Their commercials seem good.  People seem to trust them.  I had only gotten one bad review from a friend, Shawn Foster.  I just hoped that his experience was a fluke.  Many other people had gone and were out of there in 30 minutes.  That's what I was shooting for: the 30-minute experience.

    March 2nd was a snow day so I decided to take advantage of the free time.  After Bonnie went off to work (poor thing), I headed out with all my tax stuff (basically it was a folder of all the crap that got mailed to us since January 31st).  I also grabbed the "$50 Off" coupon Bonnie had received for using H&R Block on-line last year!  I had called ahead and they told me to come in around 11:30.  I entered the room and was hit immediately by the bright green walls.  I didn't exactly get that warm feeling the commercial wants us to get, but I wasn't scared either ... yet.

    A gentlemen came up to me and told me that Kerry was going to be helping me today.  I couldn't see anything except the top of her head, but I got the feeling Kerry was young.  Well, I was wrong.  After less than a minute, Kerry got out of his desk and came over.  Let's see, how do I explain what Kerry looked like.  Kerry, the man, was a mix between Gary Oldman and Adolf Hitler. 

 

                   +                           =        My Tax Guy!

 

    Anyway, he shook my hand for about 2 seconds longer than the average handshake.  That scared me right there.  It was now 11:33 and I had plans to be there for 45 minutes top.  Bonnie and I each had two incomes - she has her old and current job and I have my teaching job plus my summer job.  Then there are school loans and such.  Of course, I knew that the fact that I work in New Jersey and now live in Pennsylvania was going to be an issue.  God forbid this be easy!

    We start off looking through the forms I bring.  The look on his face was priceless.  "Boy, you have a lot of forms," he starts off! 

    "I do?  Don't you have a lot of people with two jobs and school loans?"

    "Not really," he replies.  Oh God!  The crazy thing was the fact that Frank, who seemed to run office, could hear his comments and said nothing.  After about 45 minutes of Kerry (or Mr. ****, as he introduced himself) commenting on my job, he started to talk about his real life goals.  He wants to be a teacher, too.  But as we got further into the session, I noticed how his eyes seemed to linger and always with a look of concern about what I was thinking.  I had the distinct impression that he was not a person to be left alone with young children. 

    He had to ask for help repeatedly, which didn't bother me too much because it meant Frank, who seemed to know what he was doing, could help.  What got me nervous was when he had to GOOGLE  a form because he had never seen it before!  Oh God!  Finally, after 90 minutes, we were ready to start.  He showed me everything he was doing step by step.  I had the urge to tell him I did not care and that he should just get it done, but I felt bad.  It was obvious that this guy had no one to talk to.  He told me how he was trying to get teacher certification in New Jersey and that he wanted to go alternate route (which is how I got my teaching certificate).  He said that he started applying for jobs in December, but still had not gotten a job.  What a crazy notion?  You mean schools don't hire in the middle of the school year?  Crazy, right!  The scary thing is this guy will probably get a lot of offers come July because he's a science teacher!  Why are science teachers the creepy ones?

    Anyway, after two and half hours, he was done with MY income.  Bonnie's was yet to come!  I told him that I had to leave and that I would come back at six to pick up a completed tax return.  He seemed surprised.  I told him that Bonnie would come back with me to sign all the forms she needed to sign.  I got to my car and wanted to shoot myself.  I called Bonnie and told her about the ordeal.  She seemed very concerned (but later I found out she did not take me as seriously as she should have). 

    I called the office at 5:30 to confirm that I would be there at 6:00.  Fortunately for me (sense the sarcasm), Kerry had stayed to make sure he was there to explain things to me when I got there.  I know I'm new at this, but I think I understand what needs to be done.  Since everyone does this, I assume that any idiot can do it.  No offense to the idiots out there!

    Bonnie and I walked in and he immediately jumped up to greet us.  Again, his handshake lingered too long.  It wasn't until we got in the car that Bonnie told me the exact same thing about shaking his hand.  She also apologized for not taking me seriously.  This guy was absolutely crazy.  He stared at us as if he wanted to be friends.  Perhaps this is why we sat there for another 45 minutes while he finished explaining what would be coming to us, what we would owe (that's right, owe) and how we would pay for his services.  We were charged quite a lot because of "all our forms."  I have no doubt that I will be getting a phone call from Kerry very soon to make sure I am happy with the service, but really for him to talk to someone. 

    The point is, ladies and gentlemen, go to "TurboTax.com" and do your taxes yourself.  If H&R Block is stupid enough to let people like Kerry have a job after the first interview, this is not the company to help prepare your taxes!  I can only hope he did everything right and that I will not be in jail come April 15th!