Answers!!!

the JoshMeister's LOST Blog and Podcast
This is where I got all this info!

HIEROGLYPHICS
The literal translation of the hieroglyphics according to Damon Lindelof is "Underworld"

[b]SMOKEY(Very Cool)[/B] YEMI & EKO
Carlton indicated that the monster "could manifest itself as people, like Yemi
Carlton hinted that Jack's dad really is dead, and said that there is still a lot "to be told, particularly about Libby, that we hope to get to." Damon stated that "some of those blanks [in Libby's story] will be filled in in the course of season three, and some beyond."
When Eko looks inside the plane, Yemi's body is gone. We know from Official LOST Podcasts that when people die on LOST, they're really dead. There are very obvious parallels between Yemi's appearance on the island and Christian Shephard's appearance in the Season 1 episode White Rabbit. The deceased person continually tries to stay out of reach, walking or running off into the jungle, and eventually leading to the place where the deceased person's body had once been. You might recall that Christian Shephard's casket was empty when Jack found it on the island. Initially, this prompted speculation that Jack's dad really wasn't dead, or that Christian's body never was on the plane to begin with. In light of new evidence, however, it seems apparent that when the smoke monster disguises itself as a dead person, the person's body is no longer where it should be. Apparently, when Jack thought he was seeing his dad on the island, he was really seeing a manifestation of the smoke monster. We might also assume that the black horse that Kate and Sawyer saw was really an appearance of the smoke monster, as could have been other character appearances on the island (possibly Hurley's imaginary friend Dave, who tried to get Hurley to jump off a cliff, or some post-kidnapping appearances of Walt, for example—or perhaps even some appearances of the dog Vincent, if you believe that crackpot theory).
Further evidences that the fake Yemi was tangible: Eko pulled out of his pocket the photo that Yemi gave him in the tent, and Locke found the cross necklace in the jungle.
One of the most interesting scenes in The Cost of Living is when Mr. Eko sees Yemi again, and rather than confessing of his sins, he explains that he feels that he has not sinned, but has done only what was required of him. The apparition of Yemi mysteriously remarks that Eko spoke to him as if he was his brother. This could be taken many ways, but based on the explanation in this week's Official LOST Podcast, apparently this was supposed to be understood to mean that this was not really Yemi, but that it was the smoke monster posing as Eko's younger brother.
At the end of the episode, Eko is thrown around violently and killed by the smoke monster, which shows that the smoke monster is not imaginary, but is a tangible entity.

In a recent podcast interview with Michael Emerson, who plays Benjamin Linus, Emerson gave several opinions and possible spoilers that are rather interesting:
· He seems to believe that The Others really might have super strength, as some fans have speculated
· He thinks that Charlie might be the next to die (possibly because of something he knows about an upcoming episode)
· If Ben dies on the operating table, "it is going to create a sort of absence of power at the center of Other culture, a vacuum of power that others may step into, which characters you haven't met yet. Frightening characters." My own speculation about this is that perhaps the Chinese-speaking woman may be Ben's replacement.
· When asked whether The Others work directly for the Hanso Foundation or DHARMA, Emerson said "No. Not the Others that we know."
· He revealed that Ben has truly lived on the island his whole life.
· He believes that The Others will once again be able to communicate with the outside world
· He confirmed that there is indeed more than one group of Others, and said that it is not an offshoot of Ben's group.

Great minds think alike Wed, I like joshmeister, too. This is a good find.

"He confirmed that there is indeed more than one group of Others, and said that it is not an offshoot of Ben's group."

- Sweet. I knew it. *Does a dance*

Nice stuff about smokey too, makes sense about the people, who died, weren't there anymore. Thanks for sharing!

see i said that there is one gorup of others

One of the most interesting scenes in The Cost of Living is when Mr. Eko sees Yemi again, and rather than confessing of his sins, he explains that he feels that he has not sinned, but has done only what was required of him. The apparition of Yemi mysteriously remarks that Eko spoke to him as if he was his brother. This could be taken many ways, but based on the explanation in this week's Official LOST Podcast, apparently this was supposed to be understood to mean that this was not really Yemi, but that it was the smoke monster posing as Eko's younger brother.

Stated from a podcast that the Smoke moster did take on the shape of Yemi!!!!!

WINNER, how much do I get. i bet someone on here, I just forget who. They owe me a case of something, i think.

This begs another question, was Dave form Hurley's epp the smoke monster, or still hurley's own imagination.

But great find Wednighter, the answers are rolling in now.

still no visual evidence exists... just something that we are supposed to apparently have gotten. ...

"apparently this was supposed to be understood to mean that this was not really Yemi, but that it was the smoke monster posing as Eko's younger brother.

Stated from a podcast that the Smoke moster did take on the shape of Yemi!!!!!"

podcast or no. i want to see it shapeshift. and then we can stat talking about how it does is. but until then. i see them as 2 different things. visions and smoke.

its like scooby doo. until you see the mask come off... theres always more mysteries to be had.

Good point about Scooby, and welcome back Ben.
However, I think they won't take the mask of smokey until the end, for the people who casually watch Lost, don't listen to podcasts, and don't stew about the show on forums like this. Those answers are for us.

That will be real cool when we see him shapeshift into someone unexpected. I'm hoping Hulk Hogan, who then drops a leg on one of the Others and saves Kate from trouble. What do you think about that Brutha.

Ok Benmer007 you have your opinion but I was just giving helpful info in the hopes of being able to continue theorizing and getting closer to answers... I suppose we are going to have to agree to disagree on this one

BTW Welcome Back!

Wed and Cable - I with you - I thought all along if was the manifestation of Yemi, not Yemi himself. Great find on the podcast! Kudos on a job well done!