I’m a big fan of James Redfield’s, and proponent of his concepts of synchronistic connection and energy. Last week, at the suggestion of an acquaintance, I watched the movie The Celestine Prophecy (2006) adapted from Redfield’s book of the same name (1993). Talk about synchronicity! Its correlation with my own experiences in the world of cool coincidence was astounding. Watching the film, and learning about its symbolic Nine Insights prompted an immediate appetite for more; especially since (spoiler alert) the main character reveals the existence of a tenth, unknown Insight just as the film segues into the credits.
Looking for desert to follow this main course, I immediately beelined to my Mac to Google my local, public library. I found a smorgasbord of choices there. So, I jumped in the car, drove two miles to the closest branch, and checked out the books, The Tenth Insight (1996) and The Celestine Vision (1997). As of the time of this writing, I am on page 118 of The Tenth Insight. With each page I embrace the fact that I am not alone in experiencing an increasing number of synchronicities , and that they may have something to teach me – if only I listen.
Now… why share the video above? This morning, while reviewing the Chapter Headings in the front of the book, an unnumbered, dogeared page, just past Author’s Notes, caught my attention. It was an excerpt Redfield noted from the Book of Revelations that seemed to encapsulate his fabled teachings of the 10th. Yet, what caught my attention was the word, “rainbow.” Ahh… a reference I could share with V. Copia (see Rainbow Alerts category). Upon reading this passage, and noting the multiple dotted lines of skipped text, I wanted to read that portion of Revelations in its entirety. Of course, I could have just dusted off the Bible I have in-house; yet once a geek always a geek, and with the computer mere steps away I couldn’t resist.
I Googled various phrases found on that lone page and retrieved only similar snippets, opinions, or preachy interpretations, but not the full text. I refined my search, adding “James Redfield” to the query strings, and immediately found a treasure trove of related data; including the video clip above. This short promo piece suscinctly describes the elements of synchronicity in Redfield’s work, and I wanted to share with you, herein. So herein it is.
And, for those interested, the excerpt from Revelations referenced above, is shared in V. Copia’s Rainbow Alert post entitled,RAlert: The Tenth Insight.
According to Jung, the phenomenon of synchronicity is characterized by a significant coincidence that appears between a mental state and an event occurring in the external world. Jung also noted that synchronicity tends to happen more frequently in times of intense intellectual, spiritual and emotional states. In my opinion, he is talking about the state of Junoon.
Driven
by Razi Imam
We’ve all have experienced such coincidences in our lives. A synchronicity occurs when through happenstance, we find ourselves with the exact person who may be able to help us. Or when we think of a person and suddenly run into him or her at a busy airport. How many times have we all experienced a chance meeting on a train, at a coffee shop, in a plane, or at a bus stop, with an individual who is the exact person you have been wanting to meet?
You may have also noticed that such coincidences happen to certain individuals more often than others. We usually refer to these coincidences as lucky, bizarre, and funny. Science is now attempting to explain this phenomenon. The answer lies in the world of Quantum Physics and now a growing theory of Quantum Entanglements. According to this theory, two discrete quantum particles at great distances can be connected in a special way that makes them effectively two parts of the same entity. This is a faster-than-light link and is a fundamental aspect of quantum science. Plus you can put any distance between these particles and they still remain connected to the entity. Imagine your goal is this entity and opportunities, people, events are quantum entanglements that are connected to your goal … read full article here: http://www.drivennation.com/blog/138/quantum-particles-synchronicity-and-junoon
Dwayne Johnson, Billy Bob Thornton, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Moon Bloodgood, Maggie Grace, Tom Berenger, Carla Gugino, Mike Epps, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Matt Gerald
Netflix Synopsis: On the very day he’s released from a 10-year prison sentence, convicted bank robber Driver (Dwayne Johnson) hits the streets to take revenge on the men who bungled the job that got him busted and his beloved brother killed. But close on Driver’s tail are a driven cop (Billy Bob Thornton) on the one hand and a flamboyant contract killer (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) on the other. George Tillman Jr. directs this thriller that also stars Carla Gugino.
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REVIEW: Faster surprised me. I poped it into my DVD player expecting to see a mediocre action flick. Instead, I was entertained by a decent plot, noteworthy acting, and clever cinematography, nicely blended into the story of a loyal brother, Dwayne Johnson, avenging the betrayal and death of his older sibling. Bottom-line; I liked it.
Actors were keenly matched with their roles in Faster, oxygenizing fictional characters into believable personalities. Dwayne Johnson as the good boy gone bad. Billy Bob Thorton as the cop with a past. Carla Gugino as strong, sexy, lead detective. Oliver Jackson-Cohen as the over-achieving, pretty-boy killer. Mike Epps as the hustler. Buzz Belmondo as the preacher. And, Sidney S. Liufau, as Kenny the enforcer. Just a few of the strong performances found throughout the film.
Director, George Tillman, Jr., presented a number of unique shots, as well; such as the acrobatic introduction of the Killer, Driver’s reloading snippet in the hallway shootout, and the various car chases. I especially appreciated the Director’s subtle use of visuals to tell us “more” about a character, and to share hints about the underlying story. To tell you the truth, it was so well done that I only noticed things like the framed dollar bills in Killer’s apartment, Billy Bob’s reaction in the hospital when face-to-face with Johnson, and the choice of radio station in Driver’s car, once I watched the film for a second time.
The House That Dirt Built
(click img 4 largr view)
One of the best features of the film was the way in which it incorporated musical tracks. My favorite – so well suited for the movie it could have been dupped Driver’s Theme – was the song, Short Change Hero by The Heavy. It’s refrain, This ain’t no place for no hero… typifies the spirit of this film. Additional examples can be heard in the audio portion of the 6 video clips shared below.
I’ve included that track below. Take a listen for yourself.
I’ve given Faster 3½ ‘s out of 5, for its acting, direction, editing and use of music. Sure, there may be better action adventures on the market, but if you like intelligent film-making with interesting angles and shot choices, you won’t be disappointed with Faster.
There are two ways you can view the FlixClips. Standard View is the default setting and is displayed below. An Alternate View is located directly below Standard. Each viewing “area” can be expanded and/or collapsed for easier maneuvering and user comfort. To expand or collapse either view click on it’s corresponding link ““, far left.
STANDARD VIEW shares flash, pop up, player windows viewable with most browsers.
ALTERNATE VIEW is for Internet Explorer users who experience video loading delays and/or white (blank) player windows, or for anyone who prefers embedded players.
(standard view)
To view video clips: move mouse over image’s caption. To close clips: click anywhere outside the caption area, or on , top right.
Faster (2010) | Where’s The Exit?
Faster (2010): Where’s The Exit
Faster (2010) | The Killer
Faster (2010): The Killer
Faster (2010) | Meet Kenny
Faster (2010): Meet Kenny
Faster (2010) | Hallway Shootout
Faster (2010): Hallway Shootout
Faster (2010) | Forgiveness
Faster (2010): Forgiveness
Faster (2010) | Release
Faster (2010): Release
(alternate view)
To view video clips: click on one or more titles below to drop down its player. To close clips: click the title, again.
Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Hardy, Ken Watanabe, Dileep Rao, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger, Marion Cotillard, Pete Postlethwaite, Michael Caine, Lukas Haas
Netflix Synopsis: Oscar-nominated for Best Picture, this unnerving sci-fi thriller stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Dom Cobb, who earns a tidy sum infiltrating the dreams of corporate titans to steal their most closely held secrets. Tapped by a rich industrialist (Ken Watanabe) for a job involving a rival’s heir, Cobb marshals a team of specialists that includes his right-hand man (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), an architecture student (Ellen Page) and a chemist (Dileep Rao).
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REVIEW: Let’s get right to the point. Inception was intoxicating! Chris Nolan’s intriguingly twisted screenplay was dimensionally mind-bending. A breakthrough in bread-n-butter film-making. Its special effects and cinematography were off the charts, as well, crafting this film into a fine piece of media art.
W A R N I N G !!
USE OF INCEPTION, in full or in part,
may cause rapid, neuro-synthosized, adrenaline induced simulations.
Side effects include oxymoronic obsessions; such as, racing from one’s home on secret missions to acquire personalized totems; self-inflicted states of forced relaxation and REM sleep; a false sense of consciousness, including, but not limited to a belief in subliminal information extraction, idea infusion, and/or the feeling of being able to compound the multiplicity of time-space.
If you, or someone you know, has experienced one or more of these symptoms, please seek the advice of a practicing filmologist immediately!
I include the above “Warning,” at the insistence of the Editorial Department. Apparently, rumors ran rampant after a certain critic emerged from a home-Netflix screening glassy-eyed, pumped, and speaking in seemingly senseless similes. ||disclaimer complete||
Now… MY totem is , ahh – I mean, “would be” the metal, rose-eared mouse seen left. (click img 4 lrgr view) Why, you ask? Its coal black eyes convey the secret of it’s distinctive, clipboard snap; to me, alone! Besides, I’d always know what the date is umm, was, eh… would be again?
Click space next to the arrow to expand / collapse paragraph.
Nolan’s plot, like the skin of an onion, is layered with rich detail and subtle innuendo, revealed to the viewer bit by bit. His motley crew of, let’s call them information specialists, whose talents lie in the discrete extraction of data from synaptically enigmatic locations, is superbly entertaining. I suspect Inception‘s silken nucleus was spun from a hybrid mix of autobiographical symbolism and pure creative storytelling. For example, note Nolan’s choice in character names; such as Cobb (man of strength), Arthur (the magician), Mal (latin derivative for defective, abnormal, evil), and my favorite, Ariadne (Greek Goddess of the labyrinth, or maze). Who, but a dream traveler, himself, could design such archetypal comparatives?
I’ve given Inception 4½ ‘s out of 5. It would have earned a full 5 had the acting been spot on. We aren’t talkin’ “out to lunch” performances here. I’ve just seen stronger audience connections elsewhere from both Leonardo DiCaprio and Ellen Page, of whom I’m a fan. Miscasting? Chemistry? Editing? Could be one. None. Or all. By the end, however, it doesn’t matter, as this insignificant blip is overshadowed by a energetically robust production. Worth the 2½ hour investment.
There are two ways you can view the FlixClips. Standard View is the default setting and is displayed below. An Alternate View is located directly below Standard. Each viewing “area” can be expanded and/or collapsed for easier maneuvering and user comfort. To expand or collapse either view click on it’s corresponding link ““, far left.
STANDARD VIEW shares flash, pop up, player windows viewable with most browsers.
ALTERNATE VIEW is for Internet Explorer users who experience video loading delays and/or white (blank) player windows, or for anyone who prefers embedded players.
(standard view)
To view video clips: move mouse over image’s caption. To close clips: click anywhere outside the caption area, or on , top right.
I genuinely appreciate HDR photography. Have ever since I was first exposed to the work of Austin, TX native, Trey Ratcliff a few years ago. Regular uploads to Trey’s well trafficed site, Stuck In Customs has kept my hunger for this platform alive, and thirst for what Trey calls his “eye candy” quenched.
This evening, I ran across the HDR artistry of Karsten Ramsauer. From Sibiu, Romania, 32 year old Karston has turned his passion for photo enrichment into a profession. It is my pleasure to bring you a screenshot of 70+ thumbnails featured on the HDR album page of Karsten’s public, Facebook Fan site. Further down is a link to that FB page so you can enjoy the full-sized beauty of Karsten’s images for yourself.
Karsten Ramsauer’s HDR Imagery, as shared on Facebook
(use scrollbar right to view more thumbnails) | (click image above to for larger view)