The Layman's Answers to Everything

The meaning of life according to some guy who likes TV and stuff.

Hello everyone, and welcome to the tenth Layman*/LOST** Update! Here’s the Cliff Note’s version for those of you who just want the facts:

• The Myth of LOST is currently in the design stage where the cover and interior layout are being created.
• If all goes well, the book should available for purchase by August!
• Lost did NOT spoil or ruin my theory beyond what damage had already been done by some of the flash-forwards, and even these flash-forward issues can easily be explained.
• Future Marc (now Present Marc) was mostly correct in his Lost predictions, and it seems that where he (I) wasn’t, may have been to prevent spoilers and/or frustrations.

As those of you who had read my last update in March remember, in honor of Desmond’s time traveling abilities, I conversed with both my past and future selves. My future self back then is now my current self. So, let’s see how I did and why I may have fabricated certain answers to my (now) past self.

Past Marc(s)
When will the book will likely be released?
Since I submitted the manuscript the end of January, that would put it at the end of April. Future Marc? Any idea?

Future Marc Had Said:
Actually, it took until June.

Present Marc Says:
Even though there is still another 10 days until June, it seems very unlikely that the book will be done by then. Unfortunately (it’s unfortunate from my current perspective but may end up being a blessing in disguise, who knows), iUniverse, the company I’m using, decided to move from their nearly 10 year location of Lincoln, Nebraska to Bloomington, Indiana, hiring all new people who are inadvertently delaying the process. Even still, I was ahead of the game until the book cover design stage, which has had hold-ups for reasons I still can’t completely fathom. What should’ve taken a week or two—max, is now entering its sixth week. In the meantime, I’ve been working on a promotional video for the book, so, the time lost has at least been productive.

Why would Future Marc have lied? June was ALREADY two months past the April date I thought it would be done, and to be honest, I still don’t know when the book will be done. So TECHNICALLY it could be June, I just wouldn’t want to tell my past self possibly August when he was about to work his ASS off to get his corrections from a content edit in on time. Had I known I’d be rushing for nothing, I probably would not have killed myself to get it done, delaying the process further. Trust me, I know myself. In short, I’m glad I told my past self June.

Past Marc:
Cool, I can deal with June. (See?) Just out of curiosity, I don’t see how the folks at Lost can write, shoot, edit, and air five more episodes by April 24^th. They’re gonna come back a bit later right?

Future Marc Had Said:
Sorry Past Marc, they did it. But the episodes did feel rushed in my opinion.

Present Marc Says:
YES!!  100% correct! Was no need to lie here.  And they absolutely DID feel rushed to me—especially the finale, which I was somewhat disappointed in.

Past Marc:
Oooh, speaking of the episodes, who’s Ben’s man on the boat, who are the fifth and sixth members of the Oceanic Six, and will we find out who’s in the coffin by the end of the season, if so, who is it???

Future Marc Had Said:
Michael is on the boat, the fifth and six members of the Oceanic Six are Jin and Sun, and yes, in the season finale, we found out who’s in the coffin. Just in case some of your readers want to be surprised, I’ll tell you later.

Present Marc Says:
Partial credit. Michael WAS Ben’s man on the boat. The fifth and sixth Oceanic Six members were AARON and Sun. But this was sort of a trick b/c we ALREADY knew about Aaron. Had I mentioned Aaron, it would’ve leaked the fact that Jin was NOT with Sun, spoiling a very great episode, so I lied, just as I would’ve right now, and just as the Lost creators often do. As for the coffin, yes, we did find out (which very few people knew we would back then), and I didn’t reveal it, but if I had, I would’ve lied to prevent spoilers.

Past Marc:
Fine. Any heads up you can give me about possible reveals that will wreak havoc on my theory or sub theories?

Future Marc Had Said:
There are a couple doozies, but nothing we won’t be able to explain away.

Present Marc Says:
Yep. Pretty much the minor issues are the time-traveling insinuations (but not Desmond’s b/c they are in his MIND) and moving the island (which is the show “jumping the shark” in my opinion if it really happened) and the two “doozies” are Michael’s apparent flashback (which I STILL say was his STORY, not a true flashback) and the way we are led to believe that the gang got off the island. While I will not explain these issues in my book, I have been writing updates to this season which I will likely put on a blog or something once the book is out. Speaking of which, I will bring up something I wrote in the book. Keep in mind this was written BEFORE the 4th season even started:

“One scenario is that [Jack] escapes on the ship which sinks, and he wakes up in a hospital bed, none the wiser.”

Now, remember that the boat DID sink, but that didn’t effect Jack and the gang. But what DID effect them is that the helicopter that they were all on CRASHED into the water. If the pilot, Frank Lapidus, knew he was running out of fuel, why didn’t he simply take the chopper down close to the water?? I say because they HAD to crash to explain the flash-forwards. So, have they all really gotten off the island? Has Sun really bought her father’s billion-dollar company using a few million from the settlement and begun standing up to him? Did Jack really move in with Kate for awhile? Are the numbers existing off the island for Hurley? Did Kate really get off scot-free for her crimes and become a successful mom to boot? I say NO! You’ll have to read my book for what I do believe about the flash-forwards, and yes, I do believe that both Charley and Jack’s dad are still alive, but not the way they are depicted.

Past Marc:
That’s cool I guess. Oh, will the folks at Lost/ABC/Bad Robot Productions, be suing me over the book?

Future Marc Had Said:
For that information, I’ll have to ask my future self. It’s June now. So far, no.

Present Marc Says:
Basically, this is true, but I had to insinuate that the book was already out to cover my first lie.

Past Marc:
Okay, I have so many other questions, but I guess I’ll keep it to just one. A tarot card reading I had said I’d be meeting a blonde girl by the name of Tracy that I’d be dating—any truth to that?

Future Marc Had Said:
Dude, you should get your money back. She was wrong on just about everything.

Present Marc Says:
Totally. In fact, the opposite of everything she said has been closer to the truth. Perhaps she should be asking her future self.

Future Marc Had Said:
I’m so glad I’m not you with those freaking content edit fixes you gotta do coming up!

Present Marc Says:
AMEN TO THAT!!! Honestly, It was challenging enough in the cold weather. I’ve got so much going on now, I don’t know how long it would’ve taken me, and how good a job I could’ve done. The timing was perfect there.

UPDATE TO THIS UPDATE!!!

Hey, after five weeks, I just got my preliminary cover design back from iUniverse as I’m writing this (after I called and yelled and then sent a rather New Yorker-toned email this morning. The squeaky wheel, yadda yadda.)! It’s pretty good. Needs some adjustments, but better than I was expecting.

Hopefully, by the next update, I’ll have a release date!

May your inner spark grow to light your way,

Marc

*New People:

If you aren’t familiar with the story, here’s a brief synopsis:

The Layman’s Answers To Everything is a spiritual comedy (or spiromedy) about an unlucky guy who believes he’s meant to do something amazing, but has no idea what it is. After experiencing many challenges and meeting a bizarre cast of characters, he stumbles upon secret messages hidden in TV, movies, and music that are aimed at guiding humanity. Using these messages, he starts a new religion which changes his life, and ultimately, the world. This is so much more than just a story though, because throughout the journey, we learn how to discover and fulfill our own destiny using the clues of the universe that are all around us.

I truly feel this book is going to make a real impact on the world, and set into motion a spiritual domino effect that’ll help change it for the better. And judging from the way the world is heading, I’m thinking that changing the way we’re heading would be a good thing, no? If you don’t agree, or would just prefer not to get any further emails from me, just let me know, and I’ll take you off the list—no hard feelings. Of course, I can’t promise that my book won’t track you down and find you anyway, but you have a while yet to worry about that.

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**The LOST book is called, The Myth of LOST: Solving the Mysteries and Understanding the Wisdom. It not only reveals a solution that explains all the mysteries of the show, it also explains how the show’s wisdom can be applied to our real lives.