"Numbers" the Redux

Notes on "Numbers" before I forget what I saw!!
1. Episode title - first name that refers to a chapter of the Bible. Although I know it's a play on Hurley's numbers I think there is more to it. Had it been solely about THE numbers--4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42-- then it would have been called "The Numbers" but "Numbers" is more ambiguous. And a few episodes from now we will see "Exodus" as an episode name - another Old Testament chapter. So what's the connection? All I can think of is the fact that every time I set out to read the Old Testament I ALWAYS get stuck in this chapter - pathetic I know!! But it is so dry and a really tough read "and the numbered men of the household of Gershon were 2,360..etc" since it is basically a census of the tribes of Israel if I'm remembering correctly. I'm wondering if the fact that Hurley was an island census-taker is where the further connection lies. That and the numbers...and the fact that I am a typical Lost viewer and look for meaning in every little minutiae.

2. The Numbers as a curse. I don't know why because it doesn't play exactly the same but thinking of the numbers being passed on from stranger to stranger as a curse and bringing good fortune to the user but bad fortune to others brought to mind an episode of The Twilight Zone I remember from my childhood. Anyone that remember this one can help me with the details but the gist was that a man appeared at a woman's doorstep with a briefcase and a button. If she pushed the button she would be given a large sum of money but she would be sentencing to death someone "far away whom she had never met" somewhere. She debated and debated and finally pushed the button. In the end the man brought her the money and retrieved the briefcase saying he was going to take it to the next person and provide the same choice to someone "far away whom she had never met." So obviously she would be in danger of being put to death by this unknown stranger and she'd have to rely on this person having more humanity than she had. The numbers as referenced by Leonard had this sort of feel to me. If you could stop yourself from using them than perhaps the chain would be broken but the temptation has proved too great for Sam, Hurley, possibly Leonard and the curse continues but ultimately leads to the downfall of the "user" even if it isn't visible right away.

On the show one confusing aspect--possibly due to my ineptitude with geography. Leonard said he heard the numbers from Sam Toomey who'd heard them in Kalgoorlie, Australia while Martha, Sam's wife, said that Sam AND Leonard heard them at a listening post in the South Pacific. Discrepancy? or do you think the listening post was in Kalgoorlie? Possibly Martha was lying or was Leonard lying? I dunno. Martha reminded me a bit of Jack: in the face of surmounting evidence with all these horrible things going on around her she inexplicably, somewhat angrily says, "I DON'T BELIEVE IN CURSES (miracles!)" Obviously on Lost every man of faith (Sam) is saddled with a man of science (Martha.) Leonard's words to Hurley in the asylum were interesting as well "you've opened the box. Get away from the numbers or it won't stop." Pandora's box? Or Ben's "magic box." And how exactly does one go about getting "away" from the numbers? Sam thought the curse of the numbers would die along with him and Leonard apparently went crazy over either their use or the temptation of their use. If Leonard did use the numbers I wonder how he was affected? Did he lose everyone in his life? And isn't it ironic that he would warn Hurley to not propagate the numbers yet HE is the one who passed them on to him.
The numbers also drew Rousseau's crew who heard them being broadcast from the Radio Tower on the island. Which immediately peaked my interest. WHY were they being broadcast from the island radio tower? Enter Lostpedia...

3. The Valenzetti Equation. I feel a day late to the party on this one. I hadn't realized that we actually KNOW what the numbers are. I found this all so enlightening. The fictitious mathematician Enzo Valenzetti came up with the equation that would predict the end of humanity to the month and "the numbers" of Lost are the numerical representations of the human and environmental factors of the equation. (Lost Experience and Dharma Sri Lanka video) Did everyone know this aspect of Lost except me? So the Dharma initiative was broadcasting the numbers because this was the purpose of the initiative to manipulate one or more of these variables so that they could forestall the end of mankind... thus "saving the world." This is why there were Polar bears (trying to manipulate adaptability to climate change through genetic alterations), this is why there was a button which expelled the magnetic energy every 108 minutes---oops wait, I still don't understand that one but I was on a roll so... LOL! I wondered when we had ever seen this referenced on Lost and found myself looking at a close up representation of the Blast Door Map as seen by Locke - another first for me. One of the notations on the map indicates an area of the island of "low relevance to Valenzetti-related research." Dunno where this area was exactly - see my above ineptitude with Geography comment--but I'd like to know if anyone wants to check the Blast Door Map out for me! When we get to that episode (Lockdown?) where Locke sees/draws the map we've gotta go into it in more detail because it was an eye-opener. The Latin notations, the Cerebus Vent markings (I now see where that came from!) I need hours to study this thing!

4. Well for the first time I've been more about the Mythos and less about the characterizations. Ahh! Valenzetti has warped my mind into a mythology-shipper! I did love the merry band of 4 going out: Charlie, Jack and Sayid in support of Hurley. It was the only time I remember seeing these 4 specifically on a "mission." And also...Lillian Hurst (Carmen Reyes) was the scene-stealer of the episode! I remember the outtakes for her conversation with Hurley and she was hilarious..."Hugo, It's Jesus Christ on the phone...he wants to know what kind of car you want?" which works perfectly with one of my favorite quotes during the run of Lost "Jesus Christ is not a weapon." She really is classic. Hopefully, we get more of her this season.