# Lost 2.17: "Lockdown" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 29, 2006, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-17-lockdown/350423 "2006-03-29T16:50:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2006, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-17-lockdown/350423/221 "2006-03-31T19:05:21Z")
> [@The Chao Goes Mu](#): > > Ok, so in looking at the drawing, next to the flame, the “artist” has scrawled, √16 √64 √255 ok so the square root of 16 is 4, of 64 is 8, our first two numbers, then the curve ball, the square root of 255 is not 15 (the next number) it’s actually 15.968719422671311999070245176981. Hmmm. Whatever that means. If it means anything at all. Then to the right of Swan, there’s written which appears to be cooridinates maybe? x4 y8 z15 I’m no mathematician by any stretch so if anyone can enlighten, that would be great. I suspect the 255 is just a transcription error for 225. I thought about coordinates before, but for that to work you need a seventh number to represent the point of origin. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2006, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-17-lockdown/350423/222 "2006-03-31T19:07:58Z")
> [@The Chao Goes Mu](#): > > Ok, so in looking at the drawing, next to the flame, the “artist” has scrawled, √16 √64 √255 ok so the square root of 16 is 4, of 64 is 8, our first two numbers, then the curve ball, the square root of 255 is not 15 (the next number) it’s actually 15.968719422671311999070245176981. Hmmm. Whatever that means. If it means anything at all. I think that is a typo. On one map I looked at, it was SQRT(225). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2006, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-17-lockdown/350423/223 "2006-03-31T19:11:40Z")
> [@Oslo Ostragoth](#): > > I think that is a typo. On one map I looked at, it was SQRT(225). Well, that would make more sense. Ok, so if x4, y8, z15 aren’t coordinates, what might they be? Why the variables? ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2006, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-17-lockdown/350423/224 "2006-03-31T19:14:35Z")
Other points/questions about the map: Is it, in fact, a “map”? “D.I.H.G” = Dharma Initiative H\_\_\_\_\_ G\_\_\_\_\_? What is “Dharmatel”? What is “P.R.D.” that occurs every 6-9 months? What might “CV” stand for? Anything else? ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2006, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-17-lockdown/350423/225 "2006-03-31T19:17:25Z")
Why the hell were Locke and Helen the only people at the funeral? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2006, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-17-lockdown/350423/226 "2006-03-31T19:18:46Z")
Incidentally, for what it’s worth, the latest date on the map is 01.06.03. Granted, we don’t know exactly when the TV events are taking place, but I’d say this weakly supports the theory that the map was made by Desmond’s partner before he died, assuming he’s been dead for a few years. ---
**Author:** ![Antonius\_Block](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Antonius\_Block](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antonius_Block)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2006, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-17-lockdown/350423/227 "2006-03-31T19:25:45Z")
> [@Oslo Ostragoth](#): > > “D.I.H.G” = Dharma Initiative H\_\_\_\_\_ G\_\_\_\_\_? Hanso Group. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2006, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-17-lockdown/350423/228 "2006-03-31T19:35:30Z")
> [@Oslo Ostragoth](#): > > Is it, in fact, a “map”? It’s not only a map, it’s a recursive map. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2006, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-17-lockdown/350423/229 "2006-03-31T19:37:41Z")
Spoiler contains the name of episode 2.21- Airdate 5/10/06. The episode title is ?. Maybe we’ll find out what’s in the ? area. Or is that too obvious? ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2006, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-17-lockdown/350423/230 "2006-03-31T19:37:58Z")
> [@Oslo Ostragoth](#): > > Other points/questions about the map: > > Is it, in fact, a “map”? > > “D.I.H.G” = Dharma Initiative H\_\_\_\_\_ G\_\_\_\_\_? Dharma Inititive Hanso Group > [@](#): > > What is “Dharmatel”? Telecommunications division of Dharma Inititive? > [@](#): > > What is “P.R.D.” that occurs every 6-9 months? Periodic Resupply Drop? > [@](#): > > What might “CV” stand for? Naval designation for a carrier, isn’t it? Probably doesn’t apply here though. ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2006, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-17-lockdown/350423/231 "2006-03-31T19:42:06Z")
> [@Honey](#): > > Why the hell were Locke and Helen the only people at the funeral? I wondered that too, but just figured he wasn’t a very popular guy. He obviously placed no value on family whatsoever based on his treatment of his own son, so that could explain the lack of other family members there. I’m guessing Locke wasn’t the only one who got screwed over by dear old dad. ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2006, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-17-lockdown/350423/232 "2006-03-31T19:48:43Z")
Any interesting guesses as to the lines drawn between the hatches? They don’t seem like tunnels and only one does not contain a line through the “?” (the staff). Also “EEP”? Rampant speculation is encouraged. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2006, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-17-lockdown/350423/233 "2006-03-31T19:49:16Z")
> [@yellowval](#): > > I wondered that too, but just figured he wasn’t a very popular guy. He obviously placed no value on family whatsoever based on his treatment of his own son, so that could explain the lack of other family members there. I’m guessing Locke wasn’t the only one who got screwed over by dear old dad. I thought it was odd that Helen said she likes the obituaries because nobody ever speaks ill of the dead. Then they get to the cemetary and no one else has shown up. Also, did Helen actually show Locke the obit? I just don’t trust her. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2006, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-17-lockdown/350423/234 "2006-03-31T19:55:39Z")
> [@Antonius Block](#): > > …there’s another Apollonian link: Apollo was sometimes known as [Smintheus](http://www.livius.org/a/turkey/smintheum/smintheum.html) _(lord of mice)_. This title is in strict association with his domain over sickness and plague, too. (Since rats and mice are omens of illness.) Of course, Apollo is also conveniently the patron of _colonists._ > [@cmkeller](#): > > If there’s also a station called “the flame,” does that tie in with the legend of Prometheus, whose fire came from Apollo? I like that, but hesitate a bit because fire is so elemental. One thing that’s been bugging me is the translation of “_Credo nos in fluctu eodem esse_” as “I think we’re on the same wavelength.” This idiomatic english expression doesn’t seem to me to be suggested by the original latin, which (as near as I can make out) means literally “I think we’re on the same wave,” or “I think we’re on the same flow.” If it’s meant abstractly, it would have more to do with disorder or chaos. Since whoever wrote it was also trying to map the water table, it seems more logical to me that it’s meant literally. Maybe fear of contamination? Maybe I’m missing something. ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2006, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-17-lockdown/350423/235 "2006-03-31T19:57:38Z")
> [@Honey](#): > > I thought it was odd that Helen said she likes the obituaries because nobody ever speaks ill of the dead. Then they get to the cemetary and no one else has shown up. > > Also, did Helen actually show Locke the obit? I just don’t trust her. How could you not trust Peg Bundy? Tell me that. ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2006, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-17-lockdown/350423/236 "2006-03-31T20:32:56Z")
the question that has not been asked is: since Locke was the only one to see the drawing, will he mention it/tell anyone about it? ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2006, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-17-lockdown/350423/237 "2006-03-31T20:38:29Z")
> [@phungi](#): > > the question that has not been asked is: > > since Locke was the only one to see the drawing, will he mention it/tell anyone about it? Only to those that are in the loop, dude… ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2006, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-17-lockdown/350423/238 "2006-03-31T20:49:01Z")
My thoughts re: Locke sharing his new knowhow: no way. Unless the knowledge he gains from the map will save some folks on the island, as he thought the hatch would after he kept _that_ secret for a good half season until the others were supposedly coming. Plus, how much would Locke love to leave Jack in the hatch (like he was left for Jack’s poker game/Kate wooing) while he wanders around, searching for the enlightenment he’s sure the island gives everyone. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2006, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-17-lockdown/350423/239 "2006-03-31T20:50:48Z")
> [@Birdmonster](#): > > My thoughts re: Locke sharing his new knowhow: no way. Unless the knowledge he gains from the map will save some folks on the island, as he thought the hatch would after he kept _that_ secret for a good half season until the others were supposedly coming. Plus, how much would Locke love to leave Jack in the hatch (like he was left for Jack’s poker game/Kate wooing) while he wanders around, searching for the enlightenment he’s sure the island gives everyone. I’m thinking that Locke will want to contribute to the drawing and will get caught producing ‘ink’ for it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2006, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-17-lockdown/350423/240 "2006-03-31T21:11:05Z")
I saw [this](http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060331/od_nm/crime_statues_dc_2) and of course I immediately thought of Lost. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-17-lockdown/350423.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-2-17-lockdown/350423.md?page=13)