After re-watching this episode, I noticed that Desmond noticed the sky changing after his conversation with Faraday. Now, the previous two times we saw the Losties converse with any non-time shifting folks (Richard with Locke & Ethan with Locke). They did not notice the sky change at all. In fact, Richard's conversation with Locke was at night, so he definitely would have taken notice of the sky changing.

While there is a chance Richard has seen the sky change before, I think Ethan would have thought it was really odd for the sky to change so I believe he would have at least showed some visible sign of curiousity-- but he did not.

How this ties into it all, I do not know. Perhaps you guys have some ideas?

Excellent observation.

And why doesn't hatch Desmond time travel with Daniel?

I noticed this too. This must have something to do with Desmond's uniqueness and special qualities. Hopefully this insight will be answered this season.

that is odd, indeed. It makes no sense (from a physical point of view) that the time travelers notice the flash in the sky but the rest of the people don't? Why is it subjective?

A couple of days ago I had this idea that perhaps each time the sky is white flashed was also a moment on which the button pushers failed to enter the numbers in time, creating like fixed points in time to which the island can jump to. Of course, this will be debunked as soon as we saw the left behind travelling way back in time (which I reallly hope)... Can we say Black Rock? 4-toed statue?

Of course, this will be debunked as soon as we saw the left behind travelling way back in time (which I reallly hope)... Can we say Black Rock? 4-toed statue?That would be so great -- I immediately picture Richard be-toga-ed at the base of the 4-toed statue, in war paint leading the flaming arrows, etc. Sort of a Zelig-esque montage! (Joking a bit about the Richard stuff, but the storylines for those episodes would be fantastic -- and fill in so many gaps.)

I'm pretty sure The Others who were with Locke in "There's No Place Like Home" noticed the sky changing as well. So did the O6.

I'm pretty sure The Others who were with Locke in "There's No Place Like Home" noticed the sky changing as well. So did the O6.
That was from when Ben turned the wheel, the other times the Island isn't going anywhere the Losties are, Desmond noticed it because he is special, the rules don't apply to him, and I quote "The rules don't apply. you're special, you're uniquely and miraculously special"

They are different events Ben moved the Island, physically and possibly temporally, but then the Losties started to move temporally on their own while the Island stayed in one place.

I agree that it has something to do with Desmond being "special." Though I do not know in what way.

Perhaps what he does not know yet is that he can have his consciousness jump to different times at will (thought he has not yet honed that skill), and that's why the rules don't apply to him. This would also explain why he was able to see the future, because his consciousness was actually jumping forward (out of his control, again) when he was "seeing the future."

That was from when Ben turned the wheel, the other times the Island isn't going anywhere the Losties are, Desmond noticed it because he is special, the rules don't apply to him, and I quote "The rules don't apply. you're special, you're uniquely and miraculously special"

They are different events Ben moved the Island, physically and possibly temporally, but then the Losties started to move temporally on their own while the Island stayed in one place.

Hmmmm yep very true, good point.

Desmond noticing it must be because he's special. I wonder if taking the vaccine caused him or contributed to his being special?

I just at this very moment was watching that part in the episode! Daniel says to Desmond that he is uniquely and miraculously special. The "Rules" do not apply to him. If I remember correctly he and Mrs. Hawking (is she Daniel's Mom???) have already talked about how he is not affected by all of this.

Think that episode was "Flashes Before Your Eyes"