Jack Vettriano his Favourite girlJack Vettriano her Secret lifeJack Vettriano Her Secret Life II
The end of 2008 brings some discouraging news about our kids' brains and brawn. Recent results from an international United States students are performing near the middle of the pack compared to other countries, while their levels of obesity continue to climb.
Historically, these two trends were studied independently with plans of action developed for each. However, several researchers and a new book have been making the case for linking these two problems by showing the effects of aerobic exercise not only on a student's fitness level but also on their test scores.subjects that were common to all of the countries, including algebra, geometry, chemistry and physics. Overall, 425,000 students participated in the test, which is administered every four years.
Earlier this month, the latest (2007) TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics were released. They compare fourth grade students from 36 countries and eighth grade students from 48 countries. They were
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Lorrain The Dance Of The Seasons
Lorrain The Dance Of The SeasonsLorrain Port Scene with the Villa MediciLorrain Port Scene with the Departure of Ulysses from the Land of the FeaciLorrain Landscape with the Rest on the Flight into Egypt
that your soul mate is predestined. We did a rigorous content analysis of romantic comedies and found that the same issues were being portrayed in these films," the university's Dr Bjarne Holmes says.
The fact that Hollywood sells us an enhanced version of romance should come as no surprise, of course. But does that portrayal reflect a pre-existing expectation that film buffs hold or does it instill it? As part of their research, Dr Holmes' team had around 130 student volunteers watch the 2001 romantic comedy Serendipity, while another group of the same size watched a David Lynch drama. Viewers of the romantic comedy were found to be more likely to believe in fate and destiny. It was a small study confined to one region, but, Dr
Mary-Lou Galician, Head of Media Analysis and Criticism at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communication at Arizona State University, whose research in the 1990s found similar results to Holmes' study, says uncovering conscious and subconscious a difficult process, and th
that your soul mate is predestined. We did a rigorous content analysis of romantic comedies and found that the same issues were being portrayed in these films," the university's Dr Bjarne Holmes says.
The fact that Hollywood sells us an enhanced version of romance should come as no surprise, of course. But does that portrayal reflect a pre-existing expectation that film buffs hold or does it instill it? As part of their research, Dr Holmes' team had around 130 student volunteers watch the 2001 romantic comedy Serendipity, while another group of the same size watched a David Lynch drama. Viewers of the romantic comedy were found to be more likely to believe in fate and destiny. It was a small study confined to one region, but, Dr
Mary-Lou Galician, Head of Media Analysis and Criticism at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communication at Arizona State University, whose research in the 1990s found similar results to Holmes' study, says uncovering conscious and subconscious a difficult process, and th
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Boulanger A Tale of 1001 Nights
Boulanger A Tale of 1001 NightsBoulanger Reception Of An EmirBoulanger C'est Un EmirBoulanger An Arab Horseman
heard greenery click-rustle-snap, but he didn’t realize that he was being shot at until the bole of a palm tree took a bullet inches in front of his face, spraying him with flecks of its green tissue.He dropped fast and flat. He rolled off the path and crawled through night beyond the broken window. “We know just what to do with the sick son of a bitch when he shows up.”Greatly distressed, Dalton managed to roll his head side to side and produce an anguished mewling.Thinking Dalton might be worried about his wife and daughter, Hazard revealed that ferns and pittosporum, through mimulus drenched with red-purple flowers, into sheltering gloom where he was grateful for all shadows, natural and not. The jakes arrived before the ambulance, and after Hazard briefed them and told them where to send the paramedics, he went upstairs to look after Maxwell Dalton.The withered man, more hideously emaciated on third sight than he had appeared to be on first and second, rolled his sunken eyes and grimaced, greatly agitated, struggling to cough up barbed words from his no doubt cracked and bleeding throat.“Easy, easy now,” Hazard said. “Calm down. Everything’s going to be all right now. You’re safe now, Professor.”The hooked edges of the words pained Dalton as he spat them out, but he insisted on saying, “He’s ... coming ... back.”“Good,” Hazard said, grateful to hear the ambulance siren rising in the
heard greenery click-rustle-snap, but he didn’t realize that he was being shot at until the bole of a palm tree took a bullet inches in front of his face, spraying him with flecks of its green tissue.He dropped fast and flat. He rolled off the path and crawled through night beyond the broken window. “We know just what to do with the sick son of a bitch when he shows up.”Greatly distressed, Dalton managed to roll his head side to side and produce an anguished mewling.Thinking Dalton might be worried about his wife and daughter, Hazard revealed that ferns and pittosporum, through mimulus drenched with red-purple flowers, into sheltering gloom where he was grateful for all shadows, natural and not. The jakes arrived before the ambulance, and after Hazard briefed them and told them where to send the paramedics, he went upstairs to look after Maxwell Dalton.The withered man, more hideously emaciated on third sight than he had appeared to be on first and second, rolled his sunken eyes and grimaced, greatly agitated, struggling to cough up barbed words from his no doubt cracked and bleeding throat.“Easy, easy now,” Hazard said. “Calm down. Everything’s going to be all right now. You’re safe now, Professor.”The hooked edges of the words pained Dalton as he spat them out, but he insisted on saying, “He’s ... coming ... back.”“Good,” Hazard said, grateful to hear the ambulance siren rising in the
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Rothko Orange and Yellow2
Rothko Orange and Yellow2Rothko Old Gold over WhiteRothko Old Gold over White 1956Rothko Number 5
was standing ten feet from Vladimir Laputa’s front door. This wasn’t a wise place to engage in a phone chat with one of the restless dead.“Ofay, you know that four-five I shoulda capped you with last night?”In his mind’s eye, Hazard saw Calvin Roosevelt, alias Hector X, on the lawn outside Reynerd’s apartment house, both hands around a .45, squeezing off a shot, who it would be.He was wet. Cold. … Scared.The phone continued to ring.He needed either to think hard about this or to think about it never again, and he couldn’t make up his mind which way to go while he stood here, on the mother-killer’s porch.He shoved the ringing phone into a jacket pocket, turned his back to the door, and descended the steps, into the rain once more.the muzzle spitting fire in the rain.“Check this out, queerboy. You get here, I have me somethin’ [487] bigger than my four-five I’ll shove up your ass, and then all the eastlies can jam you, too. Gonna see you soon.”Hazard pressed END, and at once the phone rang in his hand. No need to answer it, no way to answer it, knowing
was standing ten feet from Vladimir Laputa’s front door. This wasn’t a wise place to engage in a phone chat with one of the restless dead.“Ofay, you know that four-five I shoulda capped you with last night?”In his mind’s eye, Hazard saw Calvin Roosevelt, alias Hector X, on the lawn outside Reynerd’s apartment house, both hands around a .45, squeezing off a shot, who it would be.He was wet. Cold. … Scared.The phone continued to ring.He needed either to think hard about this or to think about it never again, and he couldn’t make up his mind which way to go while he stood here, on the mother-killer’s porch.He shoved the ringing phone into a jacket pocket, turned his back to the door, and descended the steps, into the rain once more.the muzzle spitting fire in the rain.“Check this out, queerboy. You get here, I have me somethin’ [487] bigger than my four-five I’ll shove up your ass, and then all the eastlies can jam you, too. Gonna see you soon.”Hazard pressed END, and at once the phone rang in his hand. No need to answer it, no way to answer it, knowing
Friday, December 19, 2008
Leonardo da Vinci Madonna Litta painting
Leonardo da Vinci Madonna Litta paintingLeonardo da Vinci Leda paintingLeonardo da Vinci Female Head painting
sweet, fruity-smelling breath.Corky enjoyed the fragrance of her breath, but after swapping a lot of spit, tongue to tongue, he was sometimes left with a sour aftertaste. Like all things in an imperfect world, lovemaking always comes with a price.In this case, of course, the price had been greater for Brittina than for him.He dressed quickly. In his He slipped the pistol into one of the capacious pockets of the slicker. From another pocket he withdrew a length of flexible rubber tubing and an object that resembled a snack-size container of yogurt, though it was black with a red lid and featured no illustrations of luscious fruit.With no reason remaining to be respectful of Brittina’s clean floors, he pulled on his boots and returned to the house. The deep wet tread of his rubber soles squeaked on the vinyl tile in the kitchen.His work was not yet completed. He had left behind evidence that would convict him of murderstocking feet, he descended the narrow stairs to the cramped kitchen at the back of the house.His yellow slicker and rain hat hung on a wall peg in the small screened porch off the kitchen. His black boots stood to one side of the slicker.Rain crashed in such heavy cascades upon the porch roof that it [396] sounded like a downpour in the jungled tropics. He half expected to see grinning crocodiles in the backyard and pythons slithering in the trees.
sweet, fruity-smelling breath.Corky enjoyed the fragrance of her breath, but after swapping a lot of spit, tongue to tongue, he was sometimes left with a sour aftertaste. Like all things in an imperfect world, lovemaking always comes with a price.In this case, of course, the price had been greater for Brittina than for him.He dressed quickly. In his He slipped the pistol into one of the capacious pockets of the slicker. From another pocket he withdrew a length of flexible rubber tubing and an object that resembled a snack-size container of yogurt, though it was black with a red lid and featured no illustrations of luscious fruit.With no reason remaining to be respectful of Brittina’s clean floors, he pulled on his boots and returned to the house. The deep wet tread of his rubber soles squeaked on the vinyl tile in the kitchen.His work was not yet completed. He had left behind evidence that would convict him of murderstocking feet, he descended the narrow stairs to the cramped kitchen at the back of the house.His yellow slicker and rain hat hung on a wall peg in the small screened porch off the kitchen. His black boots stood to one side of the slicker.Rain crashed in such heavy cascades upon the porch roof that it [396] sounded like a downpour in the jungled tropics. He half expected to see grinning crocodiles in the backyard and pythons slithering in the trees.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Henri Rousseau The Dream painting
Henri Rousseau The Dream paintingLaurie Maitland Symphony in Red and Khaki I paintingWilliam Bouguereau Innocence painting
framed by the snugly buttoned yellow collar of his slicker and the drooping yellow brim of his rain hat, Corky’s face must have revealed more of his contempt than he intended.Hokenberry’s bloodshot eyes blurred with self-pity, and his doughy face kneaded itself into more and deeper folds as he said, “I wasn’t always a sorry damn wreck, you know. piss-poor tea.”“That does sound traumatizing,” Corky said, pretending sympathy.“It wasn’t traumatizin’, you ass pimple. What do you think I am, some pansy gets his dainties all puckered just ’cause someone looks at him wrong? I wasn’t traumatized, I was hexed.”Didn’t used to have [354] this gut. Shaved every day, cleaned up real nice. Front lawn used to be green. Bein’ fired by that son of a bitch is what ruined me.”“I thought you said Manheim gave you lots of severance pay?”“That was soul-buyin’ money, I now understand. Anyway, Manheim wasn’t man enough to fire me himself. He had his creepy guru do it.”“Ming du Lac.”“That’s the one. Ming, , which I’m polite enough to drink even if it tastes like piss.”“You’re a gentleman.”“We’re sittin’ at this table surrounded by roses, got this white lace cloth and fancy china—”“Sounds lovely.”“—while he talks at me about gettin’ my spiritual house in order. I’m not just bored shitless, but thinkin’ he’s even a bigger fruitcake than I ever figured, when after fifteen minutes I realize I’m bein’ fired. If he’d made that clear at the start, I wouldn’t have had to drink his
framed by the snugly buttoned yellow collar of his slicker and the drooping yellow brim of his rain hat, Corky’s face must have revealed more of his contempt than he intended.Hokenberry’s bloodshot eyes blurred with self-pity, and his doughy face kneaded itself into more and deeper folds as he said, “I wasn’t always a sorry damn wreck, you know. piss-poor tea.”“That does sound traumatizing,” Corky said, pretending sympathy.“It wasn’t traumatizin’, you ass pimple. What do you think I am, some pansy gets his dainties all puckered just ’cause someone looks at him wrong? I wasn’t traumatized, I was hexed.”Didn’t used to have [354] this gut. Shaved every day, cleaned up real nice. Front lawn used to be green. Bein’ fired by that son of a bitch is what ruined me.”“I thought you said Manheim gave you lots of severance pay?”“That was soul-buyin’ money, I now understand. Anyway, Manheim wasn’t man enough to fire me himself. He had his creepy guru do it.”“Ming du Lac.”“That’s the one. Ming, , which I’m polite enough to drink even if it tastes like piss.”“You’re a gentleman.”“We’re sittin’ at this table surrounded by roses, got this white lace cloth and fancy china—”“Sounds lovely.”“—while he talks at me about gettin’ my spiritual house in order. I’m not just bored shitless, but thinkin’ he’s even a bigger fruitcake than I ever figured, when after fifteen minutes I realize I’m bein’ fired. If he’d made that clear at the start, I wouldn’t have had to drink his
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Johannes Vermeer Mistress and Maid painting
Johannes Vermeer Mistress and Maid painting
Vanitas Still Life painting
As your friend was leaving,” she said, “he stopped in the open doorway, on the threshold there, and said to me, ‘God bless you and your roses.’ ”Perhaps this had been a peculiar thing for a man like Dunny to have said, but nothing in those six words seemed to explain why the memory of them clouded Rowena’s face with uneasiness.She said, “Just as he finished speaking, the lights pulsed and dimmed, went off—but then came on again. I didn’t think anything about it at the time, not with the storm, but now it somehow seems ... significant. I don’t know why.”Years of experience with interrogations told
John William Waterhouse The Magic Circle painting
Although Rowena was personable and lovely, although this realm of roses ought to have been pleasant, Ethan grew anxious to leave. “Did my ... my friend have any other message for me?”“No. That was all of it, I think.”“Thank you, Rowena. You’ve been helpful.”“Have I really?” she asked, looking at him strangely, perhaps as puzzled by this odd encounter as by her conversation with Dunny Whistler.“Yes,” he assured her. “Yes, you have.”Wind rattled the door again as Ethan put his hand upon the knob, and behind him Rowena said, “One more thing.”When he turned to her, although they were now almost forty feet apart, he saw that his questioning had left her more pensive than she had been when he’d first approached
Vanitas Still Life painting
As your friend was leaving,” she said, “he stopped in the open doorway, on the threshold there, and said to me, ‘God bless you and your roses.’ ”Perhaps this had been a peculiar thing for a man like Dunny to have said, but nothing in those six words seemed to explain why the memory of them clouded Rowena’s face with uneasiness.She said, “Just as he finished speaking, the lights pulsed and dimmed, went off—but then came on again. I didn’t think anything about it at the time, not with the storm, but now it somehow seems ... significant. I don’t know why.”Years of experience with interrogations told
John William Waterhouse The Magic Circle painting
Although Rowena was personable and lovely, although this realm of roses ought to have been pleasant, Ethan grew anxious to leave. “Did my ... my friend have any other message for me?”“No. That was all of it, I think.”“Thank you, Rowena. You’ve been helpful.”“Have I really?” she asked, looking at him strangely, perhaps as puzzled by this odd encounter as by her conversation with Dunny Whistler.“Yes,” he assured her. “Yes, you have.”Wind rattled the door again as Ethan put his hand upon the knob, and behind him Rowena said, “One more thing.”When he turned to her, although they were now almost forty feet apart, he saw that his questioning had left her more pensive than she had been when he’d first approached
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
John William Waterhouse The Lady Clare painting
John William Waterhouse The Lady Clare paintingJohn William Waterhouse The Awakening of Adonis paintingJohn William Waterhouse Mariana in the South paintingJohn William Waterhouse Flora painting
the forty parking stalls, many were empty at this hour on a work day.Toward the front of the garage, a car steep exit ramp to the street.The driver thumbed CLOSE on his remote even as he passed under the gate, which was clattering down again when Ethan reached it. Already the Mercedes had turned out of sight into the street above.He stood there for a moment, peering through the gate into the gray storm light.Rainwater streamed down the driveway ramp. Foaming, it vanished through the slots of a drain in the pavement immediately outside the garage.On that concrete incline, a small lizard, back broken by a car tire, but still alive, the sluicing water. So persistently did it twitch upward inch by inch that it seemed backed out of a stall. Ethan recognized Dunny’s midnight-blue Mercedes sedan.Triggered by remote control, the garage gate was already rising with a steely clack and clatter.Pistol still in hand, Ethan ran toward the car as it pulled away from him. The gate rose slowly, and the Mercedes had to stop for it. Through the rear window, he could see the silhouette of a man behind the steering wheel, but not clearly enough to make an identification.Drawing near to the Mercedes, he swung wide of it. He intended to go directly to the driver’s door.[110] The car shot forward while the barrier continued to rise, before it was fully out of the way. The roof of the Mercedes came within a fraction of an inch of leaving a generous paint sample on the bottom rail of the ascending gate, and raced up the
the forty parking stalls, many were empty at this hour on a work day.Toward the front of the garage, a car steep exit ramp to the street.The driver thumbed CLOSE on his remote even as he passed under the gate, which was clattering down again when Ethan reached it. Already the Mercedes had turned out of sight into the street above.He stood there for a moment, peering through the gate into the gray storm light.Rainwater streamed down the driveway ramp. Foaming, it vanished through the slots of a drain in the pavement immediately outside the garage.On that concrete incline, a small lizard, back broken by a car tire, but still alive, the sluicing water. So persistently did it twitch upward inch by inch that it seemed backed out of a stall. Ethan recognized Dunny’s midnight-blue Mercedes sedan.Triggered by remote control, the garage gate was already rising with a steely clack and clatter.Pistol still in hand, Ethan ran toward the car as it pulled away from him. The gate rose slowly, and the Mercedes had to stop for it. Through the rear window, he could see the silhouette of a man behind the steering wheel, but not clearly enough to make an identification.Drawing near to the Mercedes, he swung wide of it. He intended to go directly to the driver’s door.[110] The car shot forward while the barrier continued to rise, before it was fully out of the way. The roof of the Mercedes came within a fraction of an inch of leaving a generous paint sample on the bottom rail of the ascending gate, and raced up the
Lord Frederick Leighton Elijah in the Wilderness painting
Lord Frederick Leighton Elijah in the Wilderness paintingLord Frederick Leighton Cymon and Iphigenia paintingLord Frederick Leighton Acme and Septimus paintingJean Auguste Dominique Ingres Napoleon I on His Imperial Throne painting
Los Angeles Police Department, who processed them off the record. They were placed in a glass tank and subjected to a cloud of cyanoacrylate fumes, which readily condensed as a resin on the oils that formed latent prints.In fluorescent light, no friction-ridge patterns of white resin had been visible. Likewise, in a darkened lab, with a cone-shaded halogen lamp focused at oblique angles, the boxes and their contents continued to scooped clean of pits, however, to provide a setting for the inserted item.Ethan had expected a worm: earthworm, corn earworm, cutworm, leech, caterpillar, trematodeappear clean.Black magnetic powder, applied with a Magna-Brush, had revealed nothing. Even bathed in a methanol solution of rhodamine 6G, scanned in a dark lab with the eerie beam from a water-cooled argon ion laser generator, the objects had revealed no telltale luminous whorls.The nameless stalker was too careful to leave such evidence.Nevertheless, Ethan handled this sixth delivery with the care he’d exhibited while examining the five previous items. Surely no prints existed to be spoiled, but he might want to check later.[7] With the cuticle scissors, he snipped seven stitches, leaving the final three to serve as hinges.The sender must have treated the apple with lemon juice or with another common culinary preservative to ensure a proper The meat was mostly white, with only minor browning near the peel.The core remained. The seed pocket had been
Los Angeles Police Department, who processed them off the record. They were placed in a glass tank and subjected to a cloud of cyanoacrylate fumes, which readily condensed as a resin on the oils that formed latent prints.In fluorescent light, no friction-ridge patterns of white resin had been visible. Likewise, in a darkened lab, with a cone-shaded halogen lamp focused at oblique angles, the boxes and their contents continued to scooped clean of pits, however, to provide a setting for the inserted item.Ethan had expected a worm: earthworm, corn earworm, cutworm, leech, caterpillar, trematodeappear clean.Black magnetic powder, applied with a Magna-Brush, had revealed nothing. Even bathed in a methanol solution of rhodamine 6G, scanned in a dark lab with the eerie beam from a water-cooled argon ion laser generator, the objects had revealed no telltale luminous whorls.The nameless stalker was too careful to leave such evidence.Nevertheless, Ethan handled this sixth delivery with the care he’d exhibited while examining the five previous items. Surely no prints existed to be spoiled, but he might want to check later.[7] With the cuticle scissors, he snipped seven stitches, leaving the final three to serve as hinges.The sender must have treated the apple with lemon juice or with another common culinary preservative to ensure a proper The meat was mostly white, with only minor browning near the peel.The core remained. The seed pocket had been
Sunday, December 7, 2008
William Etty The Duet painting
William Etty The Duet paintingWilliam Etty Penitent Magdalen paintingWilliam Etty Female Nude in a Landscape paintingBenjamin Williams Leader The Incoming Tide Porth Newquay painting
Yet that strength has long protected you far away in your little country, though you knew it not.''I do not doubt the valour of your people. But the world is changing. The walls of Minas Tirith may be strong, but they are not strong enough. If they fail, what then? ''We shall fall in battle valiantly. Yet there is still hope that they will not fail.''No hope while the Ring lasts,only of its power in the hands of the Enemy: of its evil uses not of its good. The world is changing, you say. Minas Tirith will fall, if the Ring lasts. But why? Certainly, if the Ring were with the Enemy. But why, if it were with us? ''Were you not at the Council? ' answered Frodo. `Because we cannot use it, and what is done with it turns to evil.'Boromir got up and walked about impatiently. 'So you go on,' he cried. 'Gandalf, Elrond – all these folk ' said Frodo.'Ah! The Ring! ' said Boromir, his eyes lighting. 'The Ring! Is it not a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt for so small a thing? So small a thing! And I have seen it only for an instant in the House of Elrond. Could I not have a sight of it again? 'Frodo looked up. His heart went suddenly cold. He caught the strange gleam in Boromir's eyes, yet his face was still kind and friendly. 'It is best that it should lie hidden,' he answered.'As you wish. I care not,' said Boromir. 'Yet may I not even speak of it? For you seem ever to think
Yet that strength has long protected you far away in your little country, though you knew it not.''I do not doubt the valour of your people. But the world is changing. The walls of Minas Tirith may be strong, but they are not strong enough. If they fail, what then? ''We shall fall in battle valiantly. Yet there is still hope that they will not fail.''No hope while the Ring lasts,only of its power in the hands of the Enemy: of its evil uses not of its good. The world is changing, you say. Minas Tirith will fall, if the Ring lasts. But why? Certainly, if the Ring were with the Enemy. But why, if it were with us? ''Were you not at the Council? ' answered Frodo. `Because we cannot use it, and what is done with it turns to evil.'Boromir got up and walked about impatiently. 'So you go on,' he cried. 'Gandalf, Elrond – all these folk ' said Frodo.'Ah! The Ring! ' said Boromir, his eyes lighting. 'The Ring! Is it not a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt for so small a thing? So small a thing! And I have seen it only for an instant in the House of Elrond. Could I not have a sight of it again? 'Frodo looked up. His heart went suddenly cold. He caught the strange gleam in Boromir's eyes, yet his face was still kind and friendly. 'It is best that it should lie hidden,' he answered.'As you wish. I care not,' said Boromir. 'Yet may I not even speak of it? For you seem ever to think
Friday, December 5, 2008
Vincent van Gogh Wheatfield with Crows painting
Vincent van Gogh Wheatfield with Crows paintingVincent van Gogh The Starry Night painting
do not know,' answered Gandalf. `But I found myself suddenly faced by something that I have not met before. I could think of nothing to do but to try and put a shutting-spell on the door. I know many; but to do things of that kind rightly requireswall gave way, and the roof of the chamber as well, I think.`I am afraid Balin is buried deep, and maybe something else is buried there too. I cannot say. But at least the passage behind us was completely blocked. Ah! I have never felt so spent, but it is passing
Edmund Blair Leighton God Speed paintingEdmund Blair Leighton The Accolade painting
time, and even then the door can be broken by strength.`As I stood there I could hear orc-voices on the other side: at any moment I thought they would burst it open. I could not hear what was said; they seemed to be talking in their own hideous language. All I caught was ghâsh; that is "fire". Then something came into the chamber – I felt it through the door, and the orcs themselves were afraid and fell silent. It laid hold of the iron ring, and then it perceived me and my spell.'What it was I cannot guess, but I have never felt such a challenge. The counter-spell was terrible. It nearly broke me. For an instant the door left my control and began to open! I had to speak a word of Command. That proved too great a strain. The door burst in pieces. Something dark as a cloud was blocking out all the light inside, and I was thrown backwards down the stairs. All the
do not know,' answered Gandalf. `But I found myself suddenly faced by something that I have not met before. I could think of nothing to do but to try and put a shutting-spell on the door. I know many; but to do things of that kind rightly requireswall gave way, and the roof of the chamber as well, I think.`I am afraid Balin is buried deep, and maybe something else is buried there too. I cannot say. But at least the passage behind us was completely blocked. Ah! I have never felt so spent, but it is passing
Edmund Blair Leighton God Speed paintingEdmund Blair Leighton The Accolade painting
time, and even then the door can be broken by strength.`As I stood there I could hear orc-voices on the other side: at any moment I thought they would burst it open. I could not hear what was said; they seemed to be talking in their own hideous language. All I caught was ghâsh; that is "fire". Then something came into the chamber – I felt it through the door, and the orcs themselves were afraid and fell silent. It laid hold of the iron ring, and then it perceived me and my spell.'What it was I cannot guess, but I have never felt such a challenge. The counter-spell was terrible. It nearly broke me. For an instant the door left my control and began to open! I had to speak a word of Command. That proved too great a strain. The door burst in pieces. Something dark as a cloud was blocking out all the light inside, and I was thrown backwards down the stairs. All the
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Richard Leblanc paintings
Richard Leblanc paintingsRudolf Ernst paintings
return to the Shire. Never did I make a greater mistake!`However, I wrote a message to Frodo, and trusted to my friend the innkeeper to send it to him. I rode away at dawn; and I came at long last to the dwelling of Saruman. That is far south in Isengard, in the end of the Misty Mountains, not far from the Gap of Rohan. And Boromir will tell you that that is a great open vale that lies between the Misty Mountains and the northmost foothills of Eredis a circle of sheer rocks that enclose a valley as with a wall, and in the midst of that valley is a tower of stone called Orthanc. It was not made by Saruman, but by the Men of Númenor long ago; and it is very tall and has many secrets; yet it looks not to be a work of craft. It cannot be reached save by passing the circle of Isengard; and in that circle there
Raphael paintingsSung Kim paintings
one evening I came to the gate, like a great arch in the wall of rock; and it was strongly guarded. But the keepers of the gate were on the watch for me and told me that Saruman awaited me. I rode under the arch, and the gate closed silently behind me, and suddenly I was afraid, though I knew no reason for it.'But I rode to the foot of Orthanc, and came to the stair of Saruman and there he met me and led me up to his high chamber. He wore a ring on his finger.
return to the Shire. Never did I make a greater mistake!`However, I wrote a message to Frodo, and trusted to my friend the innkeeper to send it to him. I rode away at dawn; and I came at long last to the dwelling of Saruman. That is far south in Isengard, in the end of the Misty Mountains, not far from the Gap of Rohan. And Boromir will tell you that that is a great open vale that lies between the Misty Mountains and the northmost foothills of Eredis a circle of sheer rocks that enclose a valley as with a wall, and in the midst of that valley is a tower of stone called Orthanc. It was not made by Saruman, but by the Men of Númenor long ago; and it is very tall and has many secrets; yet it looks not to be a work of craft. It cannot be reached save by passing the circle of Isengard; and in that circle there
Raphael paintingsSung Kim paintings
one evening I came to the gate, like a great arch in the wall of rock; and it was strongly guarded. But the keepers of the gate were on the watch for me and told me that Saruman awaited me. I rode under the arch, and the gate closed silently behind me, and suddenly I was afraid, though I knew no reason for it.'But I rode to the foot of Orthanc, and came to the stair of Saruman and there he met me and led me up to his high chamber. He wore a ring on his finger.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Gockel court shenanigans ii
Gockel court shenanigans iiPino Spring FlowersPino Maternal InstinctBrett Favre 98
faltered.'Against the Shadow in the East,' said Strider quietly. 'Not much, Barliman, but every little helps. You can let Mr. Underhill stay here tonight, as Mr. Underhill, and you can forget the name of Baggins, till he is far away.''I'll do that,' said Butterbur. 'But they'll find out he's here without help from me, I'm afraid. It's a pity Mr. you worry till the morning. Nob'll say no word. No black man shall pass my doors, while I can stand on my legs. Me and my folk'll keep watch tonight; but you had best get some sleep, if you can.''In any case we must be called at dawn,' said Frodo. 'We must get off as early as possible. Breakfast at six-thirty, please.''Right! I'll see to the orders,' said the landlord. 'Good night, Mr. Baggins - Underhill, I should say! Good night - now, bless me! Where's your Mr. Brandybuck?''I don't know,' said Frodo with sudden anxiety. They had forgotten all about Merry, and it was getting Baggins drew attention to himself this evening, to say no more. The story of that Mr. Bilbo's going off has been heard before tonight in Bree. Even our Nob has been doing some guessing in his slow pate: and there are others in Bree quicker in the uptake than he is.''Well, we can only hope the Riders won't come back yet,' said Frodo.'I hope not, indeed,' said Butterbur. 'But spooks or no spooks, they won't get in The Pony so easy. Don't
faltered.'Against the Shadow in the East,' said Strider quietly. 'Not much, Barliman, but every little helps. You can let Mr. Underhill stay here tonight, as Mr. Underhill, and you can forget the name of Baggins, till he is far away.''I'll do that,' said Butterbur. 'But they'll find out he's here without help from me, I'm afraid. It's a pity Mr. you worry till the morning. Nob'll say no word. No black man shall pass my doors, while I can stand on my legs. Me and my folk'll keep watch tonight; but you had best get some sleep, if you can.''In any case we must be called at dawn,' said Frodo. 'We must get off as early as possible. Breakfast at six-thirty, please.''Right! I'll see to the orders,' said the landlord. 'Good night, Mr. Baggins - Underhill, I should say! Good night - now, bless me! Where's your Mr. Brandybuck?''I don't know,' said Frodo with sudden anxiety. They had forgotten all about Merry, and it was getting Baggins drew attention to himself this evening, to say no more. The story of that Mr. Bilbo's going off has been heard before tonight in Bree. Even our Nob has been doing some guessing in his slow pate: and there are others in Bree quicker in the uptake than he is.''Well, we can only hope the Riders won't come back yet,' said Frodo.'I hope not, indeed,' said Butterbur. 'But spooks or no spooks, they won't get in The Pony so easy. Don't
Monday, December 1, 2008
Pissarro Paysage au champ inonde 1873
Pissarro Paysage au champ inonde 1873Pissarro Lavoir de Pontoise 1872Pissarro La Varenne de St. HilairePissarro Hay Harvest at Eragny
packs again and were off.Before long the wood came to a sudden end. Wide grass-lands stretched before them. They now saw that they had, in fact, turned too much to the south. Away over the flats they could glimpse the low hill of Bucklebury across the River, but it was now to their left. Creeping cautiously out from the edge of Everything seemed quiet and peaceful, just an ordinary corner of the Shire. Their spirits rose with every step. The line of the River grew nearer; and the Black Riders began to seem like phantoms of the woods now left far behind.They passed along the edge of a huge turnip-field, and came to a stout gate. Beyond it a rutted lane ran between low well-laid hedges towards a distant clump of trees. Pippin stopped.‘I know these fields and this the trees, they set off across the open as quickly as they could.At first they felt afraid, away from the shelter of the wood. Far back behind them stood the high place where they had breakfasted. Frodo half expected to see the small distant figure of a horseman on the ridge dark against the sky; but there was no sign of one. The sun escaping from the breaking clouds, as it sank towards the hills they had left, was now shining brightly again. Their fear left them, though they still felt uneasy. But the land became steadily more tame and well-ordered. Soon they came into well-tended fields and meadows: there were hedges and gates and dikes for drainage. gate!’ he said. ‘This is Bamfurlong, old Farmer Maggot’s land. That’s his farm away there in the trees.’
packs again and were off.Before long the wood came to a sudden end. Wide grass-lands stretched before them. They now saw that they had, in fact, turned too much to the south. Away over the flats they could glimpse the low hill of Bucklebury across the River, but it was now to their left. Creeping cautiously out from the edge of Everything seemed quiet and peaceful, just an ordinary corner of the Shire. Their spirits rose with every step. The line of the River grew nearer; and the Black Riders began to seem like phantoms of the woods now left far behind.They passed along the edge of a huge turnip-field, and came to a stout gate. Beyond it a rutted lane ran between low well-laid hedges towards a distant clump of trees. Pippin stopped.‘I know these fields and this the trees, they set off across the open as quickly as they could.At first they felt afraid, away from the shelter of the wood. Far back behind them stood the high place where they had breakfasted. Frodo half expected to see the small distant figure of a horseman on the ridge dark against the sky; but there was no sign of one. The sun escaping from the breaking clouds, as it sank towards the hills they had left, was now shining brightly again. Their fear left them, though they still felt uneasy. But the land became steadily more tame and well-ordered. Soon they came into well-tended fields and meadows: there were hedges and gates and dikes for drainage. gate!’ he said. ‘This is Bamfurlong, old Farmer Maggot’s land. That’s his farm away there in the trees.’
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)