Here's an amazing video clip of dolphins making bubble rings...
along with an explanation from colleague András (not sure where he got it or who to attribute this text to):

This is extraordinary.  Enjoy! 

The attached video is of dolphins playing with silver colored rings which they have the ability to make under water to play with.  It isn't known how they learn this, or if it's an inbred ability.
 
As if by magic the dolphin does a quick flip of its head and a silver ring appears in front of its pointed beak. The ring is a solid, donut shaped bubble about 2-ft across, yet it doesn't rise to the surface of the water!  It stands upright in the water like a magic doorway to an unseen dimension. The dolphin then pulls a small silver donut from the larger one.  Looking at the twisting ring for one last time a bite is taken from it, causing the small ring to collapse into thousands of tiny bubbles which head upward towards the water's surface.  After a few moments the dolphin creates another ring to play with.  There also seems to be a separate mechanism for producing small rings, which a dolphin can accomplish by a quick flip of its head.
 
An explanation of how dolphins make these silver rings is that they are "air-core vortex rings".  Invisible, spinning vortices in the water are generated from the tip of a dolphin's dorsal fin when it is moving rapidly and turning. When dolphins break the line, the ends are drawn together into a closed ring.  The higher velocity fluid around the core of the vortex is at a lower pressure than the fluid circulating farther away. Air is injected into the rings via bubbles released from the dolphin's blowhole. The energy of the water vortex is enough to keep the bubbles from rising for a reasonably few seconds of play time.

Thanks to Angélique D. for sending this YouTube clip with, as she says, "a truly beautiful depiction of the miracles of love in communicating ....even with lions in the jungle.

Here's a " rel="external">great interview with my long time friend and colleague, James Barrett, author of the Silent Gospel, by William Henry, regarding the Shroud of Turin and related info, and " rel="external">parts 2, part 3, and " rel="external">part 4. Here's " rel="external">another brief clip of James talking about his work at RVML in Ashland, Oregon.

Thanks to Asha for sending me this link to a lovely animation which smoothly glides between monochrome photos of a few lovely ladies from the silver screen. If you're an avid movie-goer like me, you'll no doubt recognize quite a few familiar faces. This is similar to another effort (Women In Art), equally lovely that I reported in my blog last year. Over the years, I've learned that "pretty" is a characteristic rooted in temporal perception, subject to interpretation of finite and illusory perspectives, whereas true beauty transcends any limitation of time or space (or duality for that matter!) ... Since our real nature eternally has that transcendence, our real nature is truly beautiful. As you watch this short clip, notice how the beauty of the ONE being we ALL SHARE is beyond any particular expression or lifetime (or gender for that matter - if someone knows of similar clip depicting mens faces, please send me a link.) These two clips both remind me of the experience Gary Renard describes in his book, Your Immortal Reality, where his "visiting friends" share with him the entire sequence of their incarnational appearances, so that he might fathom the underlying quality of their eternal nature, independent of time, whim or circumstance. - a perfect example of the principles I'll be sharing later this morning in a workshop on sacred geometry.

If you haven't seen this amazing video of an elephant self-portrait, check it out! This should convince anyone hung up on "our species" that all beings have much more awareness than our provincial biases would acknowledge!

I you were impressed with Apocalypse Now, wait 'til you see the sequel!



(I just resurrected this double pun from my archives

Thanks to Joline S., Daniel H. and Dianna R. for all independently encouraging me to watch this VERY inspiring TED talk by Harvard-trained brain scientist, Jill Bolte Taylor. When I get 2 or 3 "messages from the universe", I've learned to REALLY pay attention! Now it's my turn to encourage you to watch it (if you haven't already.) Her insights go way beyond our tiny little brains in our tiny little bodies in this tiny little galaxy... to the spiritual 'energy' that encompasses us all, and is ever present within us, linking us as one.

This powerful talk is a perfect complement to the wisdom in A Course In Miracles and Gary Renard's fun introductions to that wisdom, reminding us that We (with a capital "W") are not bodies, even though "we" have them, and a timely reinforcement to our awareness that exists beyond the ego (which tends to manifest in left-brain bias as Jill demonstrated) that Eckhart Tolle is sharing so eloquently in his class (just watched class #2 as of this writing) with Oprah Winfrey, who is also hosting a radio show and pre-recorded audio with Marianne Williamson.

Birdsong and Coffee - A Wake Up Call is a great little documentary (with links to Community Agroecology Network and other organizations working to make a positive difference) about how shade-grown, fair-trade coffee helps not only protect the biodiversity in lovely countries like Costa Rica (which we had the pleasure of visiting a few years ago), Mexico (likewise on the fond memories of visiting), El Salvador, and Nicaragua, but also maintains the vital economy of coffee farmers in those regions. An important aspect of the film for me is how students from UC Santa Cruz were "adopted" by their Central American families, and they realized how kind and caring the farmers were both to their families and the land, and also to the northern researchers. I didn't realize that coffee, as a world commodity, is second only to oil! (I'm not even a coffee drinker, but I love the smell...) Another local company doing their utmost to make a positive difference (we love their chocolate!) is Dagoba. I checked out Birdsong and Coffee - A Wake Up Call from RVML.

One dear friend (James Barrett) interviewed on his research linking heart intelligence with the Shroud of Turin (The Silent Gospel) by another dear friend (Dan Shaw); enjoy! Moments after this quick interview, James gave a superb detailed presentation for the Rogue Valley Metaphysical Library (RVML).

At my friend Ed's suggestion, I watched the DVD version of "The Last Mimzy" last night... Some interesting "special features" and interviews. I'm glad I gave it a second viewing outside of my local theater viewing some months ago, and the interviews did add some signifcant context, although the depth of information could have been more for my liking.

Three suggestions:

1) Their DNA interviews would have benefitted by integrating Bruce Lipton's recent work.

2) They danced all around the "Sri Yantra" without specifically mentioning the commonly accepted name of this visual thematic anchor to the film, and

3) I still think (as I wrote in my blog some months ago) that it would have been more interesting if the "generator" in the movie actually "generated" (e.g. created an enormous surplus like a huge photovoltaic array suddently going online, dumping power into the grid like all of us with ReNU (CitizenRe PV systems) will be doing in a year or so) ... rather than "sucked" an enormous amount of power FROM the grid.

Overall, a film worth seeing, especially now on DVD.

Thanks to Jan C. for suggesting this great little clip (with some familiar friends and faces ... We just keep coming back to interconnectedness!

Tonight we had some friends over to watch a DVD I checked out from Rogue Valley Metaphysical Library (RVML) titled "Illusion". It starred Kirk Douglas among other unfamiliar actors and actresses. We all enjoyed it! The metaphor of the projector playing out the choices we make as "editors" which result in the illusory world we see on the "screen" of the material world was well done, as were the lessons of compassion.

We just saw the movie "Sicko" in Ashland yesterday; I think it is Michael Moore's finest film so far ...
Of course, there's more to the health equation in the realm of cause, but this film asks LOTS of
important questions about basic compassion and common sense (or the lack of it) in this country ...

Thanks to Hearne, Libby (and perhaps a few others) for suggesting this eye-opening video that puts the exponentially expanding times we're living in into perspective!

Here's a great overview (video interview) of the book I'm savoring and will re-read many times by its author:
The Disappearance of the Universe by Gary Renard

I just borrowed yet another inspiring video from RVML; Illumination by Ken Jenkins. I had a copy of this exquisitely lovely abstract imagery which I loaned far and wide years ago (if you have my copy, feel free to return it ... Any way, a beautiful work of meditative art if you have a chance to see it.

A few DVDs I recommend (the first two I found on the shelves at RVML)

The Quantum Hologram and ESP by Dr. Egdar Mitchell (founder of IONS - the Institute of Noetic Sciences) This DVD offers lots of straight talk about what current science does and does not say about many popular theories; quite interesting!

1 Giant Leap: This beautiful, soulful work of art also belongs in the world music category, yet the commentary seamlessly woven into this flowing art makes it a powerful documentary (really in its own genre) as well!

Liquid Buddha: Lovely animations using some classic sacred geometry models and elegant lighting...

Tonight (June 16, 2007) I will be attending a screening of a film (Living Luminaries - The Serious Business of Happiness) that other friends have spoken highly of. On the basis of the connection with Spiritual Cinema Circle, their recommendations (and the fact that I know and admire many of those featured on the film (particularly Eckhart Tolle and Marianne WIlliamson); I even interviewed one of them on the radio, Don Miguel Ruiz, a few years ago), I'm posting a blurb here about the local screening tonight in Ashland, Oregon even before I've seen it Here's the blurb:

'Living Luminaries'  on
            "The Secret Business of Happiness"
Back by popular demand - Described by viewers as "the yin to The Secret's yang!"* This acclaimed new Gotham Metro film looks at what it means to become truly happy with life.

 Featuring some of the most inspirational individuals of our day: 

 * Living Luminaries: Eckhart Tolle (The Power of Now), Marianne Williamson, Rev. Michael  Beckwith (featured on       Oprah with 'The Secret'), Don Miguel Ruiz (The Four Agreements), Gary Renard (Disappearance of the Universe),       Matthew Kelly (Seven Levels of Intimacy).
Spiritual Leaders:   Nachum Shiffren (The Surfing Rabbi), Rev. Robert A. Schuller (of the Crystal Cathedral), the Venerable Tibetan Lama Chodak Gyatso Nupka,  Rev. Mary Manin Morrissey, Dr. Harry Morgan Moses.

Civil Rights Advocates:   Geronimo Ji Jaga (Black Panther – aka. Geronimo Pratt), contemporary thinkers and enlightened teachers such as Obadiah S. Harris, Ph.D. (University of Philosophical Research), Dr. Robert Frager, Rabbi Yitchok Adlerstein (Loyola University) and Rev.Dr. William S. Epps; and many more with unique insights on how to attain happiness in our complicated times...

"Truly an eye-opening, inspiring and uplifting film for everyone!"
To view movie trailer, Click here.   www.sbofh.com  
Special guests: Noted Chi-Gong Master Mingtong of The Chi Healing Center of Ashland will lead some transfor-mational healing movements before the film for all, with a 'Q & A' afterword by "Healing Mind" author Jon Bono.
Unitarian Center - 87 4th St., Ashland
Saturday, June 16th at 7:30pm
Tickets $10 @ the door
*Come early for general seating*
Come join us to discover the true meaning of "happiness"...
Contact: Jon Bono   (541) 482-5210
Webpage link: http://excaliburtrust.com/sboh

Thanks to Emmett for sending me this link to a clip showing some neat wind-powered kinetic beach walking sculptures, and this related dynamic animation analysis of the concept.

Composite (all seven Hermetic Laws) animation example from The Geometry Code Screensaver/Meditation tool/eBooklet.

Mentalism (example still image from the animations in The Geometry Code Screensaver/Meditation tool/eBooklet

Hooray! We (Mika Feinberg and myself) just finished the Macintosh version of The Geometry Code Screensaver/Meditation tool/eBooklet! It is now available for download along with the Windows version which has been available for a few months. Since I'm catching up with other projects, I'll post the gorgeous thumbnail snaps from Mika's site to give you a "frozen in time taste" of his dazzling animations based on the line art I created in collaboration. The full book is still underway; stay tuned!

Here is the Mentalism thumbnail ... these 8 thumbnails comprise my first 8 days of blog entries for June... More info on Geometrycode.com and larger images (scroll to the bottom) at Sacred-Geometry.com

My dear friend and colleague, James Barrett, author of The Silent Gospel, has a new interview by some other friends (Regina and Scott Meredith) whose work I admire at Conscious Media Network. In this interview, he covers lots of interesting material about heart wisdom and intelligence. One point that seems very profound, both literally and metaphorically, is that the human heart is autogenic, meaning that it drives all the other rhythms in the body, not the other way around - the heart doesn't get it's biochemical beating orders from the brain or anywhere else - IT is the source!

Here's a fun cartoon Psi Wars: Is the Force Real? which highlights how consciousness impacts matter) from the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS)

Flatland - the film ... looks interesting!

Thanks to Luke G. for this thought provoking animation showing how the continental drift/tectonic plate theory might be due to expansion!

Thanks to Luke for this amusing "alternative theory" video about Neil Armstrong's first lunar steps...

I just watched yet another a superb video presentation (checked out of the RVML library: The Reincarnation of Edgar Cayce with Wynn Free & David Wilcock. I was expecting it to be mostly about Edgar Cayce, then (re)discovered that Wilcock (like me) is passionate about sacred geometry. In this video, I even saw a familiar image


I wasn't expecting to see; glad he found my POV-Ray model of the Platonic Solid dual relationships useful

Wilcock has compiled some wonderful and amazing material on his website. I've barely scratched the surface.

I just watched another superb video presentation (checked out of the RVML library): Earth Changes-The Ripple Effect: Alaska Sounds the Alarm by Dr. Nick Begich I find Nick's presentations always lucid even-handed accounts of not only what represents issues of greatest concern, but where the greatest promise lies and how we can contribute to that promise. I've had the pleasure of seeing two presentations by Dr. Begich hosted by RVML.

I just watched a superb video presentation (checked out of the RVML library) by Fred Burks (former White House interpreter): Talks of Transformation. Check out his websites: Web of Love and For Those Who Want To Know I really like his emphasis on how we're ALL responsible for our contributions to global and political situations, and how holding the best intention for all is key to our optimal future!

Check out this touching, funny, inspiring and very wise little film online (you can watch it in about a half hour - time well spent!)...

I checked out an excellent video from RVML: Foster Gamble who spoke on The Fundamental Patterning of the Universe and Us. His fascinating talk links together work of other esteemed colleagues such as Arthur Young, Nassim Haramein, and Walter Russell. The sections describing the unified field implications of the Isotropic Vector Matrix and how the Periodic Table of the Elements relate to geometric models were of particular interest, with many more worthy topics explored. I met Foster briefly in Ashland a few years ago.

I checked out an excellent video (VHS) from RVML: Dana Thibault - Fractals: The Language Of Nature. This may be the best video I've ever seen on fractals, with some of the simplest explanations for both novice and veteran explorers alike. He also does an excellent job of explaining the fractal nature of some key crop circle formations.

Thanks to Nancy, Robin & Ed (and probably a few others) for suggesting this film. Last night a couple of friends, my wife & I went to see the movie, The Last Mimzy. I was immediately reminded of the classic Julie Andrews in the Alps panorama (from the Sound of Music) in the breathtaking opening (and closing) scenes. Overall, I'm glad I saw the film, since it did offer the public some interesting glimpses and questions about the importance of following intuition, the relationship of geometry to consciousness, dreams, and energy technology (although I'm waiting for a Hollywood film to show an entire region of a country suddenly and mysteriously powered perfectly by a benign energy source, eliminating the need for non-renewables, rather than the cliché blackout scenario - I guess that will require some clever script-wiring to make that seem dramatic! It almost seems like the mass thinking imposed by a trillion dollar energy industry requires commercial films to portray innovative technologies as disruptive.

The story was fun (although why not lose the 'scary factor'? Perhaps the script writer indulged in our cultural bias toward trembling when the subject of math is raised? I also enjoyed a handful of other geometric references, the Sri Yantra (page 195 of my book) got the most exposure, although never mentioned by name, not that words are needed for geometric symbols to convey their wisdom! I also enjoyed a cameo appearance of a ZomeTool model... a REAL fun toy I recommend highly! Other animations and graphics showed geodesic, helices, spirals and a handful of other geometric archetypes, mostly for artistic effect, but I guess turning the story into a documentary would have "broken the spell". Some lovely scenery, fun visuals and relatively minimal abuse of important topics that Hollywood rarely touches. I liked the levitation scenes, although I'd like a time travel/futuristic movie to show teleportation (without external technology) as being our natural state as described as one of our natural abilities in the Baird Spalding books. Aside from the minuses already mentioned, some valid concerns on other movie reviews, and some blatant semiconductor and soft drink product placements, I liked the film.

Thanks to friend and author Jodine Turner for providing a link to a lovely 5-minute, visually and musically rich excerpt from Space Music pioneer Constance Demby's Luminescent Sonic Immersion ... The metal rod/sheet (?) instrument evidently called a "Space Bass" looks like it would be great fun to play...

Thanks to many teachers (most of whom I either have lost contact with or don't recall their names) who have given me introductory instruction in basic stretching and yoga postures... and breathing!

Speaking of Breathing, I've found these breathing techniques quite simple and practical to use when wants to emphasize a particular element (e.g. focus on water when one needs to cool down, focus on fire when one wants to warm up, focus on earth when one needs grounding, or air when one could use some uplift and inspiration. Thanks to James who gifted me a copy of this Puran Bair's book, Living from the Heart, which suggested these element-breath associations... try them!

Fire (In: mouth; Out: nose)
Earth (In: nose; Out: nose)
Air (In: mouth; Out: mouth)
Water (In: nose; Out: mouth)

Here are a couple of videos we checked out of our soon-to-close library
that are great for perennial novices like me... Basic Yoga Workout for Dummies, and Yoga For the Young At Heart - Accessible Yoga for Every Body.

Thanks to Larry G. for notifying me about this video of mysterious hexagon at Saturn's pole (which Richard Hoagland commented on some years ago...) Here's a closely related article from Jim R. and another from Shaun L, thanks!

Tonight we went to one of our local cinemas to see the "Amazing Grace" movie which features excellent performances by cast that includes one of my favorite world music artists, Youssou N'Dour. Before I realized that the film was about the abolition of the slave trade in England (the famous song is really only incidental to the plot), I thought maybe Youssou would sing, but that would not have fit the well-told and moving story. If you want to here his music, I recommend, a couple of his CDs, Joko From Village To Town and The Guide (Wonmat).

Having read Neale Donald Walsch's series of 3 "CWG" books a few years ago, last night we watched the "Conversations With God" DVD at our friends home and we all enjoyed it. The story line was good, with a few good philosophical/metaphysical insights, and the production values were excellent! (I saw the name of my friend, Ed Keller, in the credits and he does great videography/editing work!

The U.S. vs. John Lennon is an excellent documentary about a visionary we all know who asked us to imagine; great music, some unique footage and a very compassionate tribute to the life of a superstar who touched so many lives for the better.

Here are some neat videos:

This one addresses global perspectives and the exponential growth of information and interconnectedness (Thanks to Libby M.)

This one shows some neat footage of a dolphin interacting with scuba divers (Thanks to Daniel B.)

This one asks questions about how much of our happiness depends on transpersonal altruism (Thanks to Daniel H.)

This one and this one both involve pythons (Thanks to Larry G. YouTube, and the principle of serendipity)

Enjoy!

I just finished watching two very interesting RVML presentations; one by Catherine J. Larkin that talks about the Mayan Calendar and the work of Carl J. Calleman. I particularly resonate to the idea that the days of dualistic thinking are drawing to a close. The other was by Carl Marsak talking about the Enneagram and how we can understand ourselves and each other more fully by exploring our own archetypal energies and tendencies. The videos have much more important information than I've alluded to here; these two are just a tiny sample of the great videos at RVML!

Kudos to the Academy Awards last night; two awards for An Inconvenient Truth! There IS hope when the importance of our environmental awareness and activism gets this much attention! ... particularly when we take to heart that we're interconnected (and several speeches last night emphasized this in different ways, with lots of gratitude).

We watched the awards with a couple of friends last night, and we were joking that next year, in addition to the comments about celebrities arriving in their luxury hybrid cars (almost seems like an oxymoron , perhaps they will comment on the sustainable, environmentally friendly fashions and jewelry... In the media glitter of superficial celebrity, there is plenty of evidence of real people who happen to work in that industry who genuinely care about their craft, as well as making positive contributions with it!

Last night we were at our friends house and had the opportunity to watch the Celestine Prophecy a second time, and I enjoyed it even more than the first time. The film is true to James Redfield's popular novel about 9 important insights that are key to our personal and planetary unfoldment. As one example, how we relate to each other energetically (either as generators/contributors or needy consumers) makes a huge difference in our lives on every level. Finding our inner resources is key. We are all designed to be contributors, the "secret" to feeling gratitude and abundance.

A friend sent me a story today about a woman who planted daffodils over many years (photo below) which reminded me of "The Man Who Planted Trees", (an animated documentary about the life of shepherd Elzéard Bouffier) who planted oak trees in Europe over many years. The "take home lesson" on this day when we celebrate the heart is that our kindnesses may accumulate over many years of persistent effort, patience, and consistency into something truly beautiful.

I'm watching and listening to a marvelous DVD I borrowed from the Rogue Valley Metaphysical Library (RVML), one of thousands of superb titles available to its patrons. Here's a quote from this fascinating DVD that gives a flavor of the direction:

"We humans are highly malleable to our expectations, belief systems and intentions." - William A. Tiller, Ph. D.

This particular title covers (among other things) ... Slater's experiment with inversion glasses and how, after a few weeks adjustment, the subjects saw things "right side up" (even though the images presented to their retinas were "inverted" by normal standards – then within a similar time frame, after removing the glasses, subjects were gradually re-trained to see things "right side up" again. I had heard of this experiment before, and I also have a similar personal anecdote (though not as dramatic!) of learning and then unlearning (quite comically at times to folks in this country watching me, I'm sure) how to use turn signals and windshield wipers on the "other" side of the steering column in New Zealand (the side of the road was actually much easier for me than the silly controls

Tiller also talks about IIEDs - Intention Imprinted Electrical (oscillator) Device, his consulting work with the HeartMath Institute, astonishing scientifically verified modified pH of water in controlled experiments (demonstrating the principle of quantum entanglement), and LOTS of other amazing things!

Tonight we watched two seemingly unrelated programs on our tell-a-vision (as our Swami friend) likes to call it. – The first was a superb film we watched via NetFlix, Joyeux Noël (released in 2005) and the second was Oprah's program from earlier this week about "The Secret" DVD (currently enjoying a wave of popularity) and a panel of some of the folks featured on the DVD.

I already posted a blog entry last Christmas about the music of John McCutcheon which originally introduced me to the story of Joyeux Noël about a decade or so ago. Tonight we finally got to see the film, and it was worth waiting for! Joyeux Noël is a powerful film. On the surface, it documents (with minor artistic license, which is why I classify it as a documentary in the spirit of the film) the cease fire of 1914 among the Scottish, French and German soldiers, initiated by the healing power of music. I'm impressed with this film on many levels, starting with a great story about how soldiers are brainwashed from an early age to hate. As the song goes, when will we ever learn? The film quickly moves to the drama of World War 1, and even though the violence isn't excessive, I wouldn't recommend the film for children for that reason; besides, children already KNOW that war is insane! The film gives a very sensitive portrayal of the stark contrast between the desire to dutifully obey the militant dictates of a culture gone mad and the spirit of interconnectedness that is our natural state – one where we intuitively want to share photos of loved ones, food, wine and support with ALL. Here is where the film goes beyond being merely a great historical monument to a lapse in the insanity that great art (in this case the romantically engaged couple singing beautifully on the battlefield) can initiate. The metaphor applies right here, right now. It applies to the current world geopolitical situation very eloquently. It also, most importantly, reminds us to declare an inner cease fire, a truce between the personal ambitions and internal struggles we face every day and recall the inner serenity, joy and kindness, where the distinction and polarization between "self" and "other", between "we" and "they" disappears. If this film touches you emotionally and spiritually as it did me, we can smile together knowing that the world is waking up from the nightmare of separation, the illusion of lack and "not good enough". ... BTW, don't miss the director's comments which are also quite inspiring!

"The Secret" is an introduction to the Law of Attraction, a sublaw of the Seven Hermetic Laws of Truth detailed in the Kybalion. I enjoy hearing dialogue about these ancient laws or principles, which have been around before the pyramids in Egypt, before there was a planet to build on... My primary caution for viewers is that the emphasis of this video (and the interviews on Oprah and Larry King) still seems to be on how to achieve external results such as material wealth, radiant health, harmonious relationships. There is, of course, ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with any of these worthy ambitions. Ironically, the video and TV interviews persistently shift from the Neville's "Feeling Is the Secret" first principle (particularly the innate love of self as co-creator, inseparable from all creation and the allowing of gratitude with abandon) to the results that accrue from these feelings. I AM grateful that this information is getting out to the masses. At the same time, I appreciate Oprah's reminder (paraphrased) that we've "known it all along".

Over the weekend, I borrowed a couple of great videos from RVML about free energy technology. As Tom Bearden explains on one of them, the premise is that we are in an open system, not a closed one, so the absurd notion of a "perpetual motion machine" isn't considered... Both videos talk about modern physics with folks like John Hutchison (levitation), Moray King, Dennis Lee (low temp. phase change systems), Dr. Eugene Mallove, Thomas Valone, Viktor Schauberger (vortices), Walter Russell, Bruce DiPalma, Dr. Brian O'Leary, Paul Pantone (GEET processor), Thomas Bearden (I didn't realize that Maxwell's 4 equations are just excerpts by Heaviside from his original 20 quaternions that hold the keys to many discoveries, according to Bearden), Troy Reed (magnetic motors), Paramahamsa Tewari (more free energy technology) and of course, Nikola Tesla...Here are the videos; definitely worth looking into if you use energy or live on a planet that does: Free Energy: The Race to Zero Point DVD
New Energy Series Vol 1:Tom Bearden

We have a fun tradition (nearly unbroken) of watching the "Groundhog Day" movie (highly recommended) every year; it seems to improve with each viewing; or maybe we're just getting the message with repetition

I've finally uploaded a video animation loop I created a few weeks ago.
Here's the description I added for the YouTube file:

Infinite Recursive Zoom In of Nested Platonic Solids

This continuous loop rotates around a nest of the five Platonic Solids: Cube (red), Tetrahedron (yellow), Octahedron (green), Icosahedron (blue) and Dodecahedron (purple), returning to a cube oriented along the same x-y-z axes one third the size in each dimension as the outer cube. The transparency of the inner cube changes from 100% opaque to 100% transparent as the animation proceeds, which allows playing as an infinte recursive loop. High-resolution versions and more info at www.intent.com and www.brucerawles.com

The original video looks quite a bit better, BTW, the resolution reduction required for YouTube is rather severe... I just wanted to test the process, and you can still get a sense of what the original looks like.

Thanks to Michael in Arizona for alerting me to this very intuitive demonstration of how shapes resonate with different vibrational patterns and frequency interactions (quite reminiscent of Hans Jenny's Cymatics work):

Chladni Resonance Effect - sound makes form

You can feel with your ears when the sound interactions are more complex and more dissonant, and see it reflected in the patterns at the same moment.

I've always agreed with the Dalai Lama's prescription (or actually I think it was his response to the question of what his religion was, to which he replied; "simple, it's kindness" or something like that)... and I suppose to sustain that, we all need imagination to maintain the kindness we're all capable of. We went to go see "Night at the Museum" today, and there's some rather imaginative animation in that movie (as in so many fun films these days)... How about more collective imagination about a world based on kindness! Works for me...

Today's post is written by my first ever "guest author"; my beloved wife, Nancy, who put my feelings and thoughts about this film (which I thought was just going to be ONLY a romantic comedy) quite well:

"Bruce and I just watched our Netflix movie of the week: The Girl in the Cafe (2005). It stars Bill Nighy and Kelly Macdonald: "A May-December romance blooms -- not without roadblocks -- in this Emmy winner for best "made-for-TV-Movie.  Not long after meeting Gina in a cafe lonely civil servant Lawrence asks her to accompany him to the G8 Summit in Iceland. The shy outsiders hit if off, but their attraction to each other is tested when Gina's personal convictions contradict Lawrence's professional duties".

It is well done, and makes a wonderful point of this generation's ability to achieve greatness.

Keep warm,
Nancy"

At the end of this moving (and highly recommended!) film, there is a short clip from one.org, which I highly recommend visiting, signing the petition, and supporting however you can!

Today, we saw a matinee of the movie "Happy Feet" (which actually had a great message, and the sheer magnitude of the animation effort is worth seeing, not to mention the great music) ... Now I'm listening to Music from the Hearts of Space, which I've enjoyed off and on for over two decades, since the days of listening on Sunday evenings on KPFA when it aired live; the program is an appropriately icy one to go with the penguin movie we saw earlier.

We're warm and cozy inside, however, enjoying a quiet New Years Eve at home... and it was sunny and almost warm this afternoon for a longish walk/run around my favorite scenic loop which takes in Mount McLaughlin (now snow-capped; glad I hiked it when I did a few months ago) and the two Table Rock mesas here in the Upper Rogue valley. I'm looking forward to taking family and friends up there again when the spring wildflower extravaganza returns. Here's a photo taken a few years ago of some frosty pine needles in front of our former home in Nevada City, Calif.

Our friends treated us a couple mornings ago to a viewing of this truly funny and wise bit of stand up comedy from spiritual spoofer of all things arcane, Swami Beyondananda. More about perennial wisdom and transcending polarity thinking than the humorous, pun-enriched stand-up monologue might suggest; this is a great way to enhance your jestive system without a laughs-ative (from long time G-U-R-U buddy, Steve.)

Having emerged today from a brief delusion/diversion into fear/doubt/blame, I am reminded of a great movie we usually watch every year about this time, the classic "It's a Wonderful Life" with Jimmy Stewart & Donna Reed. Sure, it's a sentimental, sappy old film (with some politically archaic values as other reviewers rightly note), but you know what? Who cares! The message of loving yourself unconditionally is the important point! If you start to question whether your life has touched anyone else's, rent or borrow this movie and remind yourself, that YOU DO MATTER (beyond our wildest imagination!) If we just help each other remember that our lives do make a difference in dimensions and chains of events beyond the comprehension of even the most savvy systems theorist (measuring butterfly wing flapping or whatever ... My advice: Love yourself in spite of any reasoning to the contrary, and if you need to pull yourself out of a tailspin, just do something, no matter what, kind or benevolent for another being... Happy holidays! Give yourself the love you've always wanted (free shipping from yourself to yourself!

Tonight we watched another excellent episode of Morgan Spurlock's television series "30 Days". The episodes we've seen have been exemplary lessons in tolerance and compassion (such as "Minimum Wage, "Muslims in America" and "Off the Grid"). This one was no exception and had an additional "close to home" poignancy, since many positions in the company I used to work with (for nearly 2 decades) until 2004 (when I was in a layoff with a half dozen senior staff engineers) were outsourced, ironically, to some of the most genuinely caring (as well as bright) people I've ever worked with, who happened to be from Bangalore, India. (Greetings to any of my former co-workers, both domestic and abroad; I'd love to hear from you!). As Spurlock's show pointed out, oversimplifying situations doesn't usually help people understand each other. The immediate take-home lessons for me; we ALL need to simplify our life-styles and live more lightly on the planet so that disparities in so called "standards of living" become irrelevant - this is the sustainable vision, both ecologically and culturally. Another tidbit of wisdom is to appreciate the gifts one has at each moment, as well as the perspectives of all others. We take so much for granted! What sort of amazing kindness would our world embody were we to all courageously embrace the values and perspectives of everyone as equally valid, and live life fully and simply so that (as the cliché goes) others might simply live. I've got a ways to go myself; this was a great reminder! Thanks, Morgan & crew!

Another quick post for today; we watched "Who Killed the Electric Car" (highly recommended!) via Netflix" rel="external">NetFlix and "Deja Vu" via our local bargain matinee (also a good flick if you go for the time travel genre)... Seding both made me wonder what our world would be like if the critical mass of consciousness HAD mandated sustainable vehicles (we still can!) ... and also Ernest Callenbach's classic book, Ecotopia (which he right describes as "political fiction" since it is now CLEARLY not science fiction...

I recently saw an interview on either Link TV or Free Speech TV (can't remember which, I'm a big fan of both) talking about alternatives to using fossil fuels to drive to video rental stores and, sure enough, Netflix" rel="external">NetFlix does seem to offer a convenient solution to one of our (many) environmental problems.... Lots more to solve, but walking to the mailbox vs. driving to a big box rental store definitely seems like a step in the right direction...

Video Description (thanks to Michael in Arizona for this info; not sure of the original source, but the video is quite interesting; reminds me of the work of Hans Jenny)

This is an acoustic levitation chamber I designed and built in 1987 as a micro-gravity experiment for NASA related subject matter. The 12 inch cubed plexiglas Helmholtz Resonant Cavity has 3 speakers attached to the cube by aluminium acoustic waveguides. By applying a continuous resonant(600Hertz) sound wave, and by adjusting the amplitude and phase relationship amongst the 3 speakers; I was able to control levitation and movement in all 3 (x,y,z) axis of the ambient space. This research was used to show the effects of micro-gravity conditions that exist in the space shuttle environment in orbit, but done here on Earth in a lab.