Jack Vettriano Winter Light and Lavender

Jack Vettriano Winter Light and LavenderJack Vettriano Welcome To My WorldJack Vettriano We Can't Tell Right from Wrong
engineers sucked matter through white holes in space to form it into dream planets - gold planets, platinum planets, soft rubber planets with lots of earthquakes - all lovingly made to meet the exacting standards that the Galaxy's richest men naturally came to expect. But so successful was this venture that Magrathea itself soonArthur awoke to the sound of argument and went to the bridge. Ford was waving his arms about. "You're crazy, Zaphod," he was saying, "Magrathea is a myth, a fairy story, it's what parents tell their kids about at night if they want them to grow up to become economists, it's ..." "And that's what we are currently in orbit around," insisted Zaphod. "Look, I can't help what you may personally be in orbit around," said Ford, "but this ship ..." "shouted Zaphod. became the richest planet of all time and the rest of the Galaxy was reduced to abject poverty. And so the system broke down, the Empire collapsed, and a long sullen silence settled over a billion worlds, disturbed only by the pen scratchings of scholars as they laboured into the night over smug little treaties on the value of a planned political economy. Magrathea itself disappeared and its memory soon passed into the obscurity of legend. In these enlightened days of course, no one believes a word of it.

Zurbaran Madonna with Child

Zurbaran Madonna with ChildLorrain Apollo and the Muses on Mount HelionZurbaran The Immaculate Conception2Lorrain The Expulsion of Hagar
Because neutrinos occasionally do interact with "normal" matter such as water and mineral oil, scientists hope they can use them as a revolutionary telescope to see beyond parts of the universe obscured by dust and gas.
Caption: Construction of the NuMI neutrino source underway. Credit: BNL
6. Dark MatterIf you put all of the energy and matter of the cosmos into a pie and divvy it up, the result is
Scientists can see dark matter's gravitational tug on stars and galaxies, but are searching feverishly for ways to detect it first-hand. They think particles similar to neutrinos yet far more massive could be the mysterious, unseen stuff.shocking.All of the galaxies, stars, planets, comets, asteroids, dust, gas and particles account for just 4 percent of the known universe. Most of what we call "matter" -- about 23 percent of the universe -- is invisible to human eyes and instruments.For now.

Klimt Avenue of Schloss Kammer Park

Klimt Avenue of Schloss Kammer ParkKlimt Allee im Park von Schloss KammerDali Woman With Head of Roses
The words Vogon Constructor Fleets flared in green across the screen. Ford pressed a large red button at the bottom of the screen and words began to undulate across it. At the same time, the book began to speak the entry as well in a still , found, subjected to public inquiry, lost again, and finally buried in soft peat and recycled as firelighters. "The best way to get a drink out of a Vogon is to stick your finger down his throat, and the best way to irritate him is to feed his grandmother to the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal. "On no account allow a Vogon to read poetry at you." Arthur blinked at it. "What a strange book. How did we get a lift then?" "That's the point, it's out of date now," said Ford, sliding the book back into its cover. "I'm doing the field research for the New Revised Edition, and one of the things I'll have to include is a bit about how the Vogons now employ Dentrassi cooks which gives us a rather useful little loophole."quiet measured voice. This is what the book said. "Vogon Constructor Fleets. Here is what to do if you want to get a lift from a Vogon: forget it. They are one of the most unpleasant races in the Galaxy -- not actually evil, but bad tempered, bureaucratic, officious and callous. They wouldn't even lift a finger to save their own grandmothers from the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal without orders signed in triplicate, sent in, sent back, queried, lost

Aivazovsky View Of The Ayu Dag Crimea

Aivazovsky View Of The Ayu Dag CrimeaCorot The Roman Campagna in WinterVibert An Afternoon LibationCorot La Cervara, the Roman Countryside
duced no dial tone, and when he tried to use his discovered that he had no service.Land lines might on rare occasion experience disruption after a two-day downpour. Not .In the bedroom, when he tried the telephone on his nightstand, he heard only a dead line. No surprise.From the nightstand drawer, he extracted a second magazine of ammunition for his pistol.vault. Then chase this situation to its source, find out what the hell was happening.He had prepared this spare on the evening of his first day in Palazzo Rospo, ten months ago. At the time, he’d seemed to be taking an unnecessary precaution. An extended shootout requiring more than ten rounds, within these well-protected walls, had been a possibility so slim as to be beyond calculation.Dropping the magazine in a pants pocket, Ethan hurried back into his study.The apple of his eye.Fric. Fric must still be on the second floor, in the library, selecting a book to get him through the night.Okay. The thing to do was go to the library. Hustle the boy into the [562] nearest panic room. Tuck him away safely in that comfy, armored, self-contained

Blum Row of Narcissus

Blum Row of NarcissusBlum Roses in a Painted Vase IIBlum Roses in a Painted Vase IBlum Rose on Cracked Linen
hesitated and straightened up. Whatever he’d been about to reveal, he let slide. He shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe I’m tense ’cause my dad’s .”“That’s a good thing, isn’t it?”“Sure. But it’s pretty tense, too.”“Why tense?”“Well, he’ll have some of his buddies with him, you know. He always does.”“You don’t care for his with the fragrance of popcorn and with the greasiness of canola oil tricked up to smell half like butter, where you had to check the theater seat for gum and candy before sitting down, where during the funny parts of the movie, you could hear not just your own laugh but that of a crowd.“And there’ll be a girl with him,” Fric continued. “There always is. He broke up with the last one before Florida. I don’t know who the new one is. Maybe she’ll be nice. Sometimes they are. But she’s new, and I’ll have to get to know her, which isn’t easy.”friends?”“They’re okay. They’re all unwinds. His buddies and him, they’re like a club.”A club in which you’re not and never will be a member, Ethan thought, surprised by a sympathy that tightened his throat.He wanted to give the boy a hug, take him to a movie, out to a [455] movie, not downstairs to the mini-Pantages here in Palazzo Rospo, but to some ordinary multiplex crawling with kids and their families, where the air was saturated

Titian Sacred and Profane Love [detail] painting

Titian Sacred and Profane Love [detail] paintingTitian Bacchus and Ariadne paintingLorenzo Lotto St Catherine of Alexandria painting
Sheen’s creeping smile froze before it fully formed. “What?”“Do you,” Ethan asked, “believe in freedom of religion or are you one of those who think the United States Constitution guarantees you freedom from religion?”Blinking the smile out of his eyes, licking it off his lips, the paramedic said, “Sure, of course, freedom of religion, who doesn’t believe in it?”“If we were to obtain a warrant to search your residence right now,” Hazard said, “,” Hazard said solemnly, “maybe you’d be smart to give him a call.”Still not sure what to believe, Sheen backed away another step, two, then pivoted from them and hurried toward the dayroom in which ambulance crews waited to be dispatched.“SWAT team, my ass,” Hazard grumbled.Ethan smiled. “You da man.”would we find a collection of anti-Christian hate literature, Mr. Sheen?”“What? Me? I don’t hate anybody. I’m a get-along guy. What’re you talking about?”“Would we find bomb-making materials?” Ethan asked.As Sheen’s smirk had frozen and cracked apart under Hazard’s cold [383] stare, so now the color drained from his face, leaving him as gray as the unpainted concrete walls of the ambulance garage.Backing away from Hazard and Ethan, raising his hands as if to call a time-out, Sheen said, “What is this? Are you serious? This is crazy. What—there’s a two-dollar Christmas ornament missing, so I should get a lawyer?”“If you have one

Unknown Artist Jim Dine Hearts painting

Unknown Artist Jim Dine Hearts paintingAlbert Bierstadt Sierra Nevada paintingGeorge Stubbs Whistlejacket painting
as usual, yet also friendly, presented in calligraphy that made it a minor work of art and lent to it the aura of a historical document. Sitting at the desk in his study, Ethan could hear inand the faint Scottish brogue of the She supplied her cell-phone number, which Ethan already knew, and her son’s phone number. In addition, she provided her son’s street address and the information that less than three blocks from his house was a large, lovely park.The park features many stately old California live oaks and other trees of size, she wrote, but within its boundaries are also at least [280] two generous meadows, either of which housekeeper’s voice.After an initial greeting to the effect that she hoped Ethan had enjoyed a productive day and that the Christmas spirit buoyed him as much as it did her, Mrs. McBee reminded him that she and Mr. McBee would be off to Santa Barbara early in the morning. They were spending two days with their son and his family, and were scheduled to return at 9:00 A.M. on the twenty-fourth.She further reminded him that Santa Barbara lay but an hour to the north and that she remained on call in the event that her counsel was needed.

Frida Kahlo Self Portrait 1940 painting

Frida Kahlo Self Portrait 1940 paintingFrida Kahlo My Dress Hangs There paintingFrida Kahlo Fruits of the Earth painting
, “Okay. I believe you.”Feeling low enough to slide under a snake, Ethan said, “Thanks.”Hazard turned in the pew to survey the nave, to be sure that a lost soul had not entered in need of a God fix. “You’ve come clean, so I’ll tell you something, but you’ve got to forget you heard it.”“Already I don’t even remember in a pile beside his .”“That’s not even enough for a first act.”“You know about screenplays, huh? You ?”“No. I’ve still got some self-respect.”Hazard said, “Reynerd was about this young actor goes to a special acting class, makes what he calls ‘a deep intellectual connection’ with his professor. They both hate this character named Cameron Mansfield, who happens to be the biggest movie star in the being here.”“Not much of interest in Reynerd’s apartment. Spare furnishings, everything black-and-white.”[242] “He seemed to live like a monk, but a monk with style.”“And drugs. He had a big stash of coke packaged for resale and a notof names and numbers that’s probably a customer list.”“Famous names?”“Not really. Some actors. Nobody big. The thing you need to know about is the screenplay he was In this town,” Ethan said, “guysscreenplays outnumber those cheating on their wives.”“He had twenty-six pages

Filippino Lippi The Marriage of St Catherine painting

Filippino Lippi The Marriage of St Catherine paintingFilippino Lippi Allegory paintingBartolome Esteban Murillo A Girl and her Duenna paintingLouis Aston Knight Houses by the River painting
experienced, were a mask that concealed another fear, to which he, being a rational man, was loath to admit.He half expected Rolf Reynerd to be waiting on the fifth floor.How Reynerd would have known about Dunny or where Dunny lived, how attorney, he unlocked the door, eased it open, and entered cautiously.The security alarm was not engaged. On his most recent visit, eight days ago, Ethan had set the alarm when he’d left.The housekeeper, Mrs. Hernandez, had visited in the interim. Before Dunny landed in a hospital, in a coma, she had worked here three days a week; but now she came only on Wednesday.In all likelihood, Mrs. Hernandez had forgotten to enter the alarm code when she’d departed last week. Yet as likely as this explanation might be, Ethan didn’t believe it. Juanita Hernandez was a responsible woman, methodically attentive to detail.he would have known when Ethan intended to come here—these were questions unanswerable without extensive investigation and perhaps without the abandonment of logic.[89] Nevertheless, Ethan stepped to the side of the cab, to make a smaller target of himself. He drew his pistol.The elevator doors opened on a ten-by-twelve foyer paneled in honey-toned, figured anigre. Deserted.Ethan didn’t holster his weapon. Identical doors served two penthouse units, and he went directly to the Whistler apartment.With the key provided by Dunny’s

Vincent van Gogh Couple walking in the forest painting

Vincent van Gogh Couple walking in the forest paintingVincent van Gogh Couple in the Park,Arles paintingVincent van Gogh Church of Auvers paintingAlfred Gockel Wild Party I painting
green: an unfriendly waste without even a broken tree or a bold stone to relieve the emptiness. They had come to the Brown Lands that lay, vast and desolate, between Southern Mirkwood and the hills of the Emyn Muil. What pestilence or war or evil deed of the Enemy had so blasted all that region even Aragorn could not the southernmost ranks of the Misty Mountains.There was no sign of living moving things, save birds. Of these there were many: small fowl whistling and piping in the reeds, but they were seldom seen. Once or twice the travellers heard the rush and whine of swan-wings, and looking up they saw a great phalanx streaming along the sky.`Swans! ' said Sam. `And mighty big ones too! '`Yes,' said Aragorn, 'and they are black swans.'`How wide and empty and mournful all this country looks! ' said Frodo. `I always imagined that as one journeyed south it got warmer and merrier, until winter was left behind for ever.'tell.Upon the west to their right the land was treeless also, but it was flat, and in many places green with wide plains of grass. On this side of the River they passed forests of great reeds, so tall that they shut out all view to the west, as the little boats went rustling by along their fluttering borders. Their dark withered plumes bent and tossed in the light cold airs, hissing softly and sadly. Here and there through openings Frodo could catch sudden glimpses of rolling meads, and far beyond them hills in the sunset, and away on the edge of sight a dark line, where marched

Volk Warmth painting

Volk Warmth paintingUnknown Artist David Winston Solitude painting
heard, something else: like the faint fall of soft bare feet. It was never loud enough, or near enough, for him to feel certain that he heard it; but once it had started it never stopped, while the Company was moving. But it was not an echo, for when they halted great arch they found a stone door: it was half closed, but swung back easily to a gentle thrust. Beyond there seemed to lie a wide chamber cut in the rock.
John William Waterhouse Destiny 1900 paintingJohn William Waterhouse Crystal Ball painting
it pattered on for a little all by itself, and then grew still.It was after nightfall when they had entered the Mines. They had been going for several hours with only brief halts, when Gandalf came to his first serious check. Before him stood a wide dark arch opening into three passages: all led in the same general direction, eastwards; but the left-hand passage plunged down, while the right-hand climbed up, and the middle way seemed to run on, smooth and level but very narrow.'I have no memory of this place at all! ' said Gandalf, standing uncertainly under the arch. He held up his staff in the hope of finding some marks or inscription that might help his choice; but nothing of the kind was to be seen. `I am too weary to decide,' he said, shaking his head. `And I expect that you are all as weary as I am, or wearier. We had better halt here for what is left of the night. You know what I mean! In here it is ever dark; but outside the late Moon is riding westward and the middle-night has passed.'`Poor old Bill! ' said Sam. 'I wonder where he is. I hope those wolves haven't got him yet.'To the left of the

Cheri Blum paintings

Cheri Blum paintingsCaravaggio paintings
feared. And well is it that not until this year, this very summer, as it seems, did he learn the full truth.'Some here will remember that many years ago I myself dared to pass the doors of the Necromancer in Dol Guldur, and secretly explored his ways, and found thus that our fears were true: he was none other than Sauron, our Enemy of old, at length taking shape and power again. Some, too, will remember also that Saruman dissuaded us from open deeds against him, and for long we watched him only. Yet at last, as his shadow grew, Saruman yielded, and the Council put forth its strength
Claude Lorrain paintingsDouglas Hofmann paintings
'There is indeed a wide waste of time between the River and the Mountain, between the loss and the finding. But the gap in the knowledge of the Wise has been filled at last. Yet too slowly. For the Enemy has been close behind, closer even than I and drove the evil out of Mirkwood and that was in the very year of the finding of this Ring: a strange chance, if chance it was.`But we were too late, as Elrond foresaw. Sauron also had watched us, and had long prepared our stroke, governing Mordor from afar through Minas Morgul, where his Nine servants dwelt, until all was ready. Then he gave way before us, but only feigned to flee, and soon after came to the Dark Tower and openly declared himself. Then for the last time the Council met; for now we learned that he was seeking ever more eagerly for the One. We feared then that he had some news of it that we knew nothing of. But Saruman said nay, and repeated

Caillebotte A Road Near Naples

Caillebotte A Road Near NaplesPissarro Young Peasant Girl with a StickPissarro Vue de LouveciennesPissarro Village Path
but all the same we should not name them. The Lord of the Ring is not Frodo, but the master of the Dark Tower of Mordor, whose power is again stretching out over the world! We are sitting in a fortress. Outside it is getting dark.'`Gandalf has been saying many cheerful things like that,' said Pippin. `He thinks I need keeping in orderwere a few guests of other sorts. Elrond, as was his custom, sat in a great chair at the end of the long table upon the dais; and next to him on the one side sat Glorfindel, on the other side sat Gandalf.Frodo looked at them in wonder, for he had never before seen Elrond, of whom so many tales spoke; and as they sat upon his right hand and his left, Glorfindel, and even Gandalf, whom . But it seems impossible, somehow, to feel gloomy or depressed in this place. I feel I could sing, if I knew the right song for the occasion.'`I feel like singing myself,' laughed Frodo. `Though at the moment I feel more like eating and drinking!'`That will soon be cured,' said Pippin. `You have shown your usual cunning in getting up just in time for a meal.'`More than meal! A feast!' said Merry. `As soon as Gandalf reported that you were recovered, the preparations began.' He had hardly finished speaking when they were summoned to the hall by the ringing of many bells.The hall of Elrond's house was filled with folk: Elves for the most part, though there

Volegov Bon Voyage

Volegov Bon VoyageVolegov Beauty warmVolegov At 0The Harbor emlVolegov Afternoon Warmth
'Half a minute, if you please!' shouted the man over his shoulder, and vanished into a babel of voices and a cloud of smoke. In a moment he was out again, wiping his hands on his apron.'Good evening, little master!' he said, bending down. 'What may you be wanting?''Beds for four, and stabling for five ponies, if that can be managed. Are you Mr. Butterbur?''That's right! Barliman is my name. Barliman Butterbur at your service! sorry not to make you welcome. But there is such a crowd already in the house tonight as there hasn't been for long enough. It never rains but it pours, we say in Bree.'Hi! Nob!' he shouted. 'Where are you, you woolly-footed slow-coach? Nob!''Coming, sir! Coming!' A cheery-looking hobbit bobbed out of a door, and seeing the travellers, stopped short and stared at them with great interest.'Where's Bob?' asked the landlord. 'You don't know? Well find him! Double sharpYou're from the Shire, eh?' he said, and then suddenly he clapped his hand to his forehead, as if trying to remember something. 'Hobbits!' he cried. 'Now what does that remind me of? Might I ask your names, sir?''Mr. Took and Mr. Brandybuck,' said Frodo; 'and this is Sam Gamgee. My name is Underhill.''There now!' said Mr. Butterbur, snapping his fingers. 'It's gone again! But it'll come back, when I have time to think. I'm run off my feet; but I'll see what I can do for you. We don't often get a party out of the Shire nowadays, and I should be