[Neo]

I think Chen mistook more crash survivors for "others." It implies as much on the ABC website.

The logo which keeps appearing on the equipment in the hatch, Desmond's jumpsuit, and the tail of the shark says "Dharma" in the middle. Dharma is the Hindu principle or law that orders the universe. Also concerns individual conduct in conformity with this principle, and the essential function or nature of a thing. Another possible relevant meaning is from Buddhism, where it is one of the basic minute elements from which all things are made. The symbol itself is a variation on the I-Ching, the Chinese book of changes. The number 23 (one of Hurly's numbers) is of particular significance to the I-Ching. The co-creator of the show said we should think of the number 23 in the context of Robert Anton Wilson's philosophy. He was a philosopher who believed that 23 held cosmic significance. He pointed out that there were several coincidences surrounding that number. For example, Shakespeare was born on April 23rd and died on April 23rd, a man and a woman both provide 23 chromosomes, it takes 23 seconds for blood to circulate through the body, and so on. Kate repeated "23?" when Hurly said the number, then Hurly asked "does 23 mean something to you?" And she replied something about "$23,000." The numbers appear on the hatch as well as on the serum bottle Desmond shot up with. The sum of the numbers is 108, which is written on the painting of the sun within the hatch. When Locke entered the numbers into the computer the timer reset itself to 108 minutes. What happens if the timer expires? Oh, and Chinese astrology holds that there are 108 sacred stars.

Notice the candybar that Kate ate was called Apollo? The first Apollo mission to the moon landed on 23.63 degrees East, the 2nd landed on 23.42 degrees West.

Notice the stuffed animal Michael gave to Walt was a polar bear?

One intrepid watcher noticed that if you freeze-frame the black cloud from last season you can clearly see a face. Also the thing that dragged off Locke was a column of black smoke. Could the black cloud be a life form of some kind? Possibly partly mechanical in nature? There was a definite mechanical sound when it tried to drag Locke into the hole.

My own speculation is that Hurly's numbers have a cosmic significance and that the island may act as a focal point or nexus for those numbers. Anyone connected to the island will experience weird coincidences. The producers both said the island may not be an island at all. Perhaps it is a life form itself? The island drew the survivors to it ("the island brought us here") because it needs them for something.

The equipment in the hatch is very old. The computer, data recorders, and exercise bike are from the 70's. Whatever this project is it's been going on for a long time.