So tonight's Smallville was very "Meh" to me. The lack of both Chloe and Lois certainly didn't help.

However, I am annoyed that my tape cut off at the end. Jonathan had just asked Clark about the stone and then tape ended. Someone care to fill me in?

Holy crap, Kalshane. I feel awful. I didn't even notice the lack of Chloe.

I guess the episode was better than I expected. You see, I think, objectively, these shenanigans are kind of a cool idea, because I like mytharc-type stuff. It's got a very Rambaldi feel to it. The problem is...this isn't Alias.

I did like the twist that the map wasn't actually a map. It's the kind of twist that hits harder on a better show. Also, Isabel is kind of cool. Cooler than Lana, for sure. At least they've made all this Countess crap tie somehow into Clark, even though it's all fairly ridiculous. Why is all this Kryptonian shit here? Who put it there? How far away is Krypton that Kryptonians were coming here and leaving symbols everywhere for years until their planet blew up? Is any of this in the comics?

Kalshane, Clark said Swann's e-mail said he had given the one stone he had found to a woman named Bridget Jones, except Clark can't find any record of her. It's like she doesn't even exist. So we've got an AWOL stone here, which is no good. I'll bet Genevieve has it. Or Margot Kidder. And then Clark goes into the caves again, and Swann VOs, "Kal El, you make your own destiny" or whatever.

I kinda fell asleep. A couple times. Who paid for the plane tickets to Shanghai, and why did it all seem to take so little time? These teens are about as autonomous as Veronica Mars. It's a bit creepy.

Who paid for the plane tickets to Shanghai, and why did it all seem to take so little time?

For Clark and Lana? Lionel loaned them the Luthor Corp. jet. 'Cause while Lex cleaned out Lionel's bank accounts earlier in the season, and Lionel's living in Lex's pool house or whatever for lack of rental funds, apparently Lex left the keys to the jet on the counter in the foyer.

Who bought Jason's ticket? Lionel?

I'm not sure about Jason. He's on Lex's payroll now, isn't he? But I don't know how it pays or if he's even been working for Lex long enough to get a paycheck. He might have just charged it. Considering his family background, Jason may well have a serious credit line.

Jason may well have a serious credit line

I thought he took the job at the high school because he got cut off.

It was weird -- like he left Lana's apartment that morning, and called her from Shanghai at noon, no worries.

I thought he took the job at the high school because he got cut off.

"Cut off" is kinda vague, though. He could have had his income cut off and had the sense to get a job rather than live on his own credit cards until they were maxed out. Or it could be he lost all access to funds -- real and credit-- and this is just more of SV's famous continuity.

Cut off is my vagueness in statement, not theirs. What I took from the ep was that he was left to fend on his own. They didn't state losing the credit cards -- it's just part of the 'TV financial abandonment' package default in my head.

I seem to remember Jason's fiscal situation being described about as vaguely as "cut off". Although my memory is hindered by the fact that I'm attempting crochet during the show and watching with other folks, and sometimes our mocking can get in the way of catching every word.