Shortly after the GBO, while Mark is walking down some streets on his way to find Olivia, he passes a movie theater. I didn't catch what was on the marquee on the first watch. But it was something I wanted to check when I went thru the episode again. Turns out the marquee says that what's playing is "The Tale of Attaf." Well, I trusted IMDB was right when it comes up showing there's no such movie. But I knew there had to be a reason for the title. I think there is.

One of the myriad stories collected in the "Arabian Nights" is entitled, you guessed it, "The Tale of Attaf." Well, that's cool. But what's even cooler is that the story is about a self-fulfilling prophecy, hmmm, and has been compared to the story of Oedipus Rex from Greek mythology. Since there happens to be a painting of Oedipus and the Sphinx on Mark's Mosaic board, I'm willing to guess that at least some of the "prophecies" everyone saw in their FF's may prove to be self-fulfilling.
Note that: In Stan Wedeck's memorial service speech in Ep.3 he repeats what Aaron had said earlier to Mark about everyone being a prophet after the GBO.
Also note that: When Stan's wife is describing her FF to Olivia she says that she's putting to bed a boy she's never seen before - and she calls him "Attaf."

Wow, great find!

Great deductions.
how apropos…
jevans1020, check out Mr.Goyer's avatar (http://forum.redpandaresources.com/member.php?find=lastposter&f=877), you'll get a kick out of it :biggrin:

So many Easter Eggs.

The Tale of Attaf (http://devotedfansnetwork.com/flashforward/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=1439&fullsize=1)

http://www.artandpopularculture.com/The_Tale_of_Attaf

So many Easter Eggs.

The Tale of Attaf (http://devotedfansnetwork.com/flashforward/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=1439&fullsize=1)

http://www.artandpopularculture.com/The_Tale_of_Attaf
If you look at this link, it says that The Tale of Attaf contains a self-fulfilling prophecy. It says "A self-fulfilling prophecy is a prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself to become true....In other words, a true prophetic statement — a prophecy declared as truth when it is not — may sufficiently influence people, either through fear or logical confusion, so that their reactions ultimately fulfill the false prophecy."

Wow! This is a huge hint that the characters' flashforwards will indeed come true because of the very actions they take to try to influence the future that was seen in their flashforwards. So perhaps Mark starts drinking because of the pressure he's under from seeing himself drinking in his flashforward. Perhaps Olivia begins an affair with Lloyd because she's so obsessed with him because of seeing him in her flashforward. Maybe Ned Ned decides not to receive treatment for his Addison's disease because he likes the person that he becomes because of not being treated.

You want another good self-fulfilling prophecy type Egg?

Near the start of Ep.4, Demetri and Zoey are sitting outside a coffee shop, discussing their wedding date and the FBI's detention of Alda Hertzog. The sign on the shop says "Zurika Coffee." The word Zurika doesn't seem to mean anything important, and pretty much its only coherent anagram is "Kuzari." Interesting, because Kuzari (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuzari) is the name given to a famous set of writings by an influental medieval Jewish philosopher. It was widely read and debaterd by Jewish theologians of the time. And, it was a major influence on the development of the Kaballah - hmmm, where have I heard that before?.

One of its major tenets, known as the "Kuzari Principle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuzari_Principle)" is that if people believe an event occurred, it proves that it actually did happen.

Food for thought - egg salad, maybe.

You want another good self-fulfilling prophecy type Egg?

Near the start of Ep.4, Demetri and Zoey are sitting outside a coffee shop, discussing their wedding date and the FBI's detention of Alda Hertzog. The sign on the shop says "Zurika Coffee." The word Zurika doesn't seem to mean anything important, and pretty much its only coherent anagram is "Kuzari." Interesting, because Kuzari (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuzari) is the name given to a famous set of writings by an influental medieval Jewish philosopher. It was widely read and debaterd by Jewish theologians of the time. And, it was a major influence on the development of the Kaballah - hmmm, where have I heard that before?.

One of its major tenets, known as the "Kuzari Principle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuzari_Principle)" is that if people believe an event occurred, it proves that it actually did happen.

Food for thought - egg salad, maybe.

Very well thought out. I have a source to suggest for your egg salad. In Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass there was this character called Humpty-Dumpty...:biggrin:

Yep. A word means what I say it means - nothing more and nothing less. Another nice twist on the idea that we create our own reality in our heads.

I have to apologize, M_H, that I haven't yet applied myself to going through your Alice posts and considering all the tie-ins to Alice here. I think I need to go back and read the 2 stories before I do that, but I plan to soon.

Yep. A word means what I say it means - nothing more and nothing less. Another nice twist on the idea that we create our own reality in our heads.

I have to apologize, M_H, that I haven't yet applied myself to going through your Alice posts and considering all the tie-ins to Alice here. I think I need to go back and read the 2 stories before I do that, but I plan to soon.

No apology needed, but you're going to have fun once you jump down the hole!

I wanted to turn real pages so bought several books. Inside the topic though are web sources put there by others to read it online. Only today have I actually started reading the original material from 1865(!) finally but have found a link to the oranges on the freeway (Orange Marmalade) right after Benford wakes up and also one from Alda Hertzog (when she mentions the candle flame).

We've got 19 chess pieces assigned to FlashForward characters and have only one of two left to go, possibly. I think the reversals that are seen in the character flasions (my word for the flashforward visions) are mirror images as in "Through the Looking-Glass" and much much more. So the GBO (I think) is both the Rabbit Hole AND the Looking-Glass.

When David said in one of the "Flash Card" videos that he just wanted something "unexpected" for Benford to see on the street and that later inclusion of the kangaroo was only planned for later, that comment itself was a deception as I think he had it planned for with definite deliberation. David should work in a fish market as he tosses Red Herrings with the best of them, hee. You and Apo and some others are finding a fine level of detail and forethought that is fantastic in its breadth and depth. I think David is going to do just fine as the lone show-runner. This is his and Jessika's project (along with Bragga) after all.

… Only today have I actually started reading the original material from 1865(!) finally but have found a link to the oranges on the freeway (Orange Marmalade) right after Benford wakes up and also one from Alda Hertzog (when she mentions the candle flame)….
…pretty sure Janis had oranges in her bag when she was ambushed…

Janis' Groceries 1 (http://devotedfansnetwork.com/flashforward/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=6513&fullsize=1) Groceries 2 (http://devotedfansnetwork.com/flashforward/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=6587&fullsize=1)

…pretty sure Janis had oranges in her bag when she was ambushed…

Well, after a few bullets pass through those oranges, they'll BE marmalade, lol.

Thanks Apo, and I did get the AA (Annotated Alice) one you suggested. Now I'll go look again at Janis' cool moves. That is, before she gets shot in the belly. :eek2:

P.S. If one used one's imagination, the dual A's in Aaron might stand for Alice's Adventures as much as they might Alcoholics Anonymous, eh?

P.P.S. Janis has a little over two months to get the bullet out and heal up before getting her "bun in the oven." ;)

…I did get the AA (Annotated Alice) one you suggested.… Hope you enjoy it. I really liked the way it was presented. Gonna have to put that one on the 'to read' list again (stupid never-ending list, heh)…

Before returning this thread to the Tale of Attaf, I wanted to add that we also hear Benford say "Wedeck pulled some kind of rabbit" to Janice. Thanks again Apo (and NBC for the screen caps) for the mention of additional oranges. This series sure has a cornucopia of Easter eggs, lol.

I just noticed the marquee at the Orpheum theatre with "A Tale of Attaf" on it and searched and found this thread.

Attaf is the name of the boy at the funeral that Stan Wedeck''s wife saw in her flashforward.

Yep. Like I said in my post, she calls him that when she's putting him to bed in her FF. I expect we'll see more of him.