Cai william adolphe bouguereau painting 0824

Jack Vettriano One Moment in Time

2009-05-12T23:25:00.001-07:00

Jack Vettriano One Moment in TimeJack Vettriano On the BorderJack Vettriano on Parade
It's great!' said the Bursar, waving his skinny hands in the air.
'And I'm not too certain about you!'
Ridcully sat down againspeaking the right language.
'I mean it's too much!'
'Yes!'
Ridcully sighed.
'Is it time for your dried frog pill?'
Smoke was coming out of the stricken piano. The Librarian's hands were walking through the keys like Casanunda in a nunnery.
Ridcully looked around. He felt all alone.
Someone else hadn't been overcome by the music. Satchelmouth had stood up. So had his two associates. and pulled out the thaumometer. It was vibrating crazily, which was no help at all. It didn't seem to be able to decide if this was magic or not.He nudged the Bursar sharply.'This ain't magic! This is something else!''You're exactly right!'Ridcully had the feeling that he suddenly wasn't

George Bellows Stag at Sharkey's

2009-05-11T23:42:00.001-07:00

George Bellows Stag at Sharkey'sGeorge Bellows Dempsey and FirpoCaravaggio The Sacrifice of IsaacCaravaggio The Musicians
mere pedestrians. 'Volf the Lucky . . . ?'
'Er. I don't know ‑ I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE HE IS,' said Susan helplessly.
The helmeted woman leaned forward. There was something rather familiar about her.
'Are you new?' give it some wellie!' shouted the horned woman.
Susan swung the scythe. The line snapped.
'What happened?' said Volf. He looked down. 'That's me down there, isn't it?' he said. He turned slowly. 'And down there. And over there. And . . .'
He looked at the horned female warrior and brightened up.
'By Io!' he said. 'It's true? Valkyries will carry me off to the hall of Blind lo where there is perpetual feasting and drinking?''Yes. I mean, YES.''Well, don't stand there like a big girl's blouse. Jolly well go and fetch him, there's a good sport.'Susan looked around wildly, and saw him at last. He wasn't very far away. A youngish man, outlined in flickering pale blue, was visible among the fallen.Susan hurried over, scythe at the ready. There was a blue line connecting the warrior to his former body.SQUEAK! shouted the Death of Rats, jumping up and down and making suggestive motions.'Left hand thumb up, right hand bent at the wrist,

Edmund Blair Leighton Stitching the Standard

2009-05-07T00:46:00.000-07:00

Edmund Blair Leighton Stitching the StandardFrancois Boucher Nude on a SofaFrank Dicksee La Belle Dame Sans MerciBenjamin Williams Leader The Last Gleam, Wargrave on Thames
'But there used to be very exalted circles, attend Guild functions . . .'
They exchanged glances. The Patrician got the best of the bargain, since Carrot's face was bigger. Both of them were trying not to grin.
'An excellent choice, in fact,' said the Patrician.
'I'd taken the liberty, sir, of drafting a letter to the cap— to Mr Vimes on your behalf. Just to save you trouble, sir. Perhaps you'd care to have a look?'a rank, in the old days. Commander of the Watch. I suggest Samuel Vimes.'The Patrician leaned back. 'Oh, yes,' he said. 'Commander of the Watch. Of course, that became a rather unpopular job, after all that business with Lorenzo the Kind. It was a Vimes who held the post in those days. I've never liked to ask him if he was an ancestor.''He was, sir. I looked it up.''Would he accept?''Is the High Priest an Offlian? Does a dragon explode in the woods?'The Patrician steepled his ringers and looked at Carrot over the top of them. It was a mannerism that had unnerved many.'But, you see, captain, the trouble with Sam Vimes is that he upsets a lot of important people. And I think that a Commander of the Watch would have to move in

Cao Yong Day of Love

2009-05-04T23:26:00.000-07:00

Cao Yong Day of LoveCao Yong COOL WATERCao Yong Catalina got the . . . the gonne and came back here. He went through the wall again, dressed up as Beano, and strolled away. And then someone killed him.'
'Boffo said Beano face. It's not how they think. A clown and his make-up are the same thing. Without his makeup a clown doesn't exist. A clown wouldn't wear another clown's face in the same way a dwarf wouldn't use another dwarfs tools.'
'Sounds risky, though,' said Angua.
'It was. It was very risky.'
'Carrot? What are you going to do now?'
'I think it might be a good idea to find out whose room was on the looked worried,' said Angua.And I thought: that's odd, because you'd have to see a clown right up close to know what his real expression was. But you might notice if the make-up wasn't on quite right. Like, maybe, if it was put on by someone who wasn't too used to it. But the important thing is that if another clown sees Beano's face go out of the door, he's seen the person leave. They can't think about someone else wearing that

Joseph Mallord William Turner Heidelberg

2009-04-28T23:55:00.000-07:00

Joseph Mallord William Turner HeidelbergTheodore Robinson Willows and WildflowersMary Cassatt Woman With A Pearl Necklace In A LogeEduard Manet Flowers In A Crystal Vase
worked out what derriere velocite meant. The whole nose business looked like a conundrum wrapped up in an enigma, or at least in Sergeant Colon's handwriting, which was pretty much the same thing. Why be asked to look for a nose that of Qvirm, who vanished in mysteriovs circvmstances. It is how to make a powder called No. 1 powder, which is vsed in fireworks. Mr Silverfish the alchemist says any alchemists knows it. Also, in the margin of the paper, is a drawing of The Gonne, becavse I asked my covsin Grabpot abovt Leonard and he vsed to sell paints to Leonard and he recognized the writing and said Leonard always wrote backwards becavse he was a genivs. I have copied same herewith.'
Vimes laid the papers down and put the piece of metal on top of them.
Then he reached in his pocket and produced a couple of metal pellets.
A stick, the gargoyle had said.
Vimes looked at the sketch. It looked, as Cuddy wasn't lost?He looked at Cuddy's report, written in the careful angular handwriting of someone more used to runes. And sagas. 'Captain Vimes, this herewith is the chronicle of me, Lance-Constable Cvddy. Bright was the morning and high ovr hearts when we proceeded to the Alchemists Gvild, where events eventvated as I shall now sing. These inclvded exploding balls. As to the qvest vpon which we were sent, we were informed that the attached piece of paper [attached] is in the handwriting of Leonard

Henri Rousseau Exotic Landscape 1908

2009-04-28T00:05:00.000-07:00

Henri Rousseau Exotic Landscape 1908Henri Rousseau EveHenri Rousseau Carnival EveningHenri Rousseau Boy on the Rocks
'Sorry, sergeant.'
They turned to Detritus, who was standing sheepishly behind a heap of broken longbows. Crossbows were out of the question. They sat in his massive hands like a hairpin. In theory the longbow would be a deadly weapon in his hands, just as soon as he mastered the art of when to let go.
Detritus he'd been either a soldier or a guard all his life, and he was feeling put-upon. Otherwise he wouldn't have said what he said next.
'I don't know, I really don't. Fighting among yourselves, smashing your own weapons . . . I mean, who do we think we're fooling? Now, it's nearly noon, you take a few hours off,shrugged.'Sorry, mister,' he said. 'Bows aren't troll weapon.''Ha!' said Colon. 'As for you, Lance-Constable Cuddy—''Just can't get the hang of aiming, sergeant.''I thought dwarfs were famous for their skills in battle!''Yeah, but . . . not these skills,' said Cuddy.'Ambush,' murmured Detritus.Since he was a troll, the murmur bounced off distant buildings. Cuddy's beard bristled.'You devious troll, I get my—''Well now,' said Sergeant Colon quickly, 'I think we'll stop training. You'll have to . . . sort of pick it up as you go along, all right?'He sighed. He was not a cruel man, but

William Bouguereau Nymphs and Satyr.

2009-04-26T23:19:00.000-07:00

William Bouguereau Nymphs and Satyr.
Diego Rivera Detroit IndustryLeroy Neiman Rocky vs ApolloAndy Warhol Superman
Ankh-Morpork, where he is currently a watchman in the Night Watch. I couldn't believe it!'
'That's still not—'
Edward raisedleft-hand corner of the page? You will see that the artist has hel-pfully drawn the inscription.'
It took several minutes for everyone to examine it. They were naturally suspicious people. They were all descendants of people for whom suspicion and paranoia had been prime survival traits.
Because they were all aristocrats. Not one among them did not know the name of his or her great his hand a moment, and then pulled out a package from the case.'I made careful enq-uiries, you know, and was able to find the place where the attack occurred. A most careful search of the ground revealed old cart n-ails, a few copper coins and, in some charcoal . . . this.'They craned to see.'Looks like a ring.''Yes. It's, it's, it's superficially d-iscoloured, of course, otherwise someone would have spot-ted it. Probably secreted somewhere on a cart. I've had it p-artly cleaned. You can just read the inscription. Now, here is an ill-ustrated inventory of the royal jewellery of Ankh done in AM 907, in the reign of King Tyrril. May I, please, may I draw your a-ttention to the small wedding ring in the b-ottom

John Constable Wivenhoe Park

2009-04-24T00:50:00.000-07:00

John Constable Wivenhoe ParkJohn Constable The White HorseJohn Constable The Hay Wain
hand out of her apron pocket, and held up a horseshoe.
Casanunda heard scuffles around him, as the hidden elves fought to get out of the way More steam hissed up as a brazier of hot stones was overturned.
“Take it away!”
“I’ll take it away when I go,” said Nanny. “Now you lis-ten to me. She’s making trouble again. You’ve got to put a stop to
day. Who knows? One day. Everyone needs ‘one day.’ But it
ain’t today. D’you see? So you come on out and balance
things up. Otherwise, this is what I’ll do. I’ll get ‘em to dig
into the Long Man with iron shovels, y’see, and they’ll say,
why, it’s just an old earthworks, and pensioned-off wizards
and priests with nothin’ better to do will pick over the heaps
and write dull old books about burial traditions and such-it. Fair’s fair. We’re not having all the Old Trouble again.”“Why should I do that?”“You want her to be powerful, then?”There was a snort.“You can’t ever rule again, back in the world,” said Nanny. “There’s too much music. There’s too much iron.”“Iron rusts.”“Not the iron in the head.”The King snorted.“Nevertheless ... even that. .. one day ...”“One day.” Nanny nodded. “Yes. I’ll drink to that. One

Alphonse Maria Mucha North Star

2009-04-22T23:49:00.000-07:00

Alphonse Maria Mucha North StarAlphonse Maria Mucha Moet and Chandon White StarAlphonse Maria Mucha Lance Parfum RodoAlphonse Maria Mucha La Dame aux Camelias LOR06 fiNQ LftD/£6
“You haven’t changed a bit, Esme.”
“Nor have you, then. You’re still a rotten liar, Mustrum
Ridcully”
They walked toward one another. The Librarian shuttled between them with a tray of meringues. Behind them, Ponder Stibbons groveled on the floor for a spilled bottle of dried frog pills.
“Well, well,” said Ridcully.
“Fancy “Nine stones, then.”
“Hmm . . . should be about right . . . three miles hub-ward . . . you’ll feel a slight lurch to the left, nothing to worry about...”
In a lightning movement, he grabbed her hand. He felt young and light-headed. The wizards back at the University would have been astonished.
“Let me take you away from all this.”that.”“Small world.”“Yes indeed.”“You’re you and I’m me. Amazing. And it’s here and now.”“Yes, but then was then.”“I sent you a lot of letters,” said Ridcully“Never got ‘em.”There was a glint in Ridcully’s eye.“That’s odd. And there was me putting all those destina-tion spells on them too,” he said. He gave her a critical up-and-down glance. “How much do you weigh, Esme? Not a spare ounce on you, I’ll be bound.”“What do you want to know for?”“Indulge an old man.”

Cao Yong SUMMER BREEZE

2009-04-21T00:58:00.000-07:00

Cao Yong SUMMER BREEZECao Yong SACRED POOLSCao Yong Red UmbrellaCao Yong Paradise
, but you could just be saying that—“
“Let us in right now, Shawn Ogg.”
Shawn saluted, slightly stunning himself with the butt of his spear.
“Right you it up to now.”
Magrat had thought this sort of thing was just a joke, but it was true. The castle’s Great Hall had one long, one very long dining table, and she and Verence sat at either end of it.
It was all to do with etiquette.
The king had to sit at the head of the table. That was obvious. But if she sat on one side of him it made them both uneasy, because they had to keep turning to talk to each other. Opposite ends and shouting was the only way.
Then there was the logistics of the sideboard. Again, the easy option—them just going are. Mistress Weatherwax.”His round, honest face disappeared from view. After a minute or two they heard the creaking of the portcullis.122(.ORD6 ft^O Lft0/£6“How did you do that?” said Nanny Ogg.“Simple,” said Granny. “He knows you wouldn’t make his daft head explode.”“Well, I know you wouldn’t, too.”“No you don’t. You just know I ain’t done

Fabian Perez Untitled II

2009-04-20T00:11:00.000-07:00

Fabian Perez Untitled IIThomas Kinkade The Aspen ChapelFabian Perez Rojo Sillion III Second StateFabian Perez Balcony at Buenos Aires II
m’m, the king said he’s having a hairdresser come all the way from Ankh-Morpork, m’m. For the wedding.”
44
LOR08 fiNQ Lft0/£6
Magrat patted a tress into place. It was beginning to dawn on her that being a queen was a whole new life.
“My word,” she said. “And what happens now?”
“Dunno, “Oook.”
“You’ll like it up there! Fresh air! Bags of trees! More woods than you can shake a stick at!”
“Oook!”
“Come down this minute!”
“Oook!”m’m.”“What’s the king doing?”“Oh, he had breakfast early and buggered off over to Slice to show old Muckloe how to breed his pigs out of a book.”“So what do I do? What’s my job?”Millie looked puzzled although this did not involve much of a change in her general expression.“Dunno, m’m. Reigning, I suppose. Walking around in the garden. Holding court. Doin’ tapestry. That’s very popu-lar among queens. And then ... er ... later on there’s the royal succession...”“At the moment,” said Magrat firmly, “we’ll have a go at the tapestry.”Ridcully was having difficulty with the Librarian.“I happen to be your Archchancellor, sir!”

Edward Hopper Sunlight in a Cafeteria

2009-04-17T00:22:00.000-07:00

Edward Hopper Sunlight in a CafeteriaEdward Hopper Summer InteriorEdward Hopper Sailing
Come on," he said.
And no one, as they hauled on timbers in the teeth of the gale, as Urn applied everything he knew about levers, as they used their helmets as shovels to dig under the wreckage, asked who it was they were digging for, or what kind of uniform they'd been wearing.
Fog rolled in on the wind, hot and flashing with electricity, and still the sea pounded down.
Simony hauled on a spar, and then found the weight lessen as someone grasped the other end. He looked up into Brutha's eyes.
"Don't say for a while and then evaporated.
The sea calmed. The fog went ragged and curled into nothingness. There was still a haze in the air, but the sun was at least visible again, if only as a brighter area in the dome of the sky.
Once again, there was the sensation of the universe drawing breath.
The gods appeared, transparent and shimmering in and out of focusanything," said Brutha."Gods are doing this to us?""Don't say anything!""I've got to know!""It's better than us doing this to us, isn't it?""There's still people who never got off the ships!""No one ever said it was going to be nice!"Simony pulled aside some planking. There was a man there, armor and leathers so stained as to be unrecognizable, but alive."Listen," said Simony, as the wind whipped at him, "I'm not giving in! You've haven't won! I'm not doing this for any sort of god, whether they exist or not! I'm doing it for other people! And stop smiling like that!"A couple of dice dropped on to the sand. They sparkled and crackled

Tamara de Lempicka La bella Rafaela

2009-04-16T00:30:00.000-07:00

Tamara de Lempicka La bella RafaelaTamara de Lempicka Girl in a Green DressTamara de Lempicka Calla Lilies
tortoise," he said.
"And the battering-ram?" said Simony.
"Oh, that's no problem," said Urn, not paying much attention. "Tree-trunk bolted to the frame. Big iron rammer. They're only bronze doors, you say?"
"Yes. But very big."
"Then they're probably hollow. Or cast bronze plates on wood. That's what I'd do."
"Not solid bronze? Everyone says they're solid bronze."
"That's what I'd say, too."
"Excuse me, sirsa lever. But . . . when I was on guard down in the crypts, sometimes, there was a room . . . there was gratings and things . . . well, you could hear water gushing . . ."
"Hydraulics," said Urn. "Thought it would be hydraulics."
"Can you get in?" said Simony.."A burly man stepped forward. He wore the uniform of the palace guards."This is Sergeant Fergmen," said Simony. "Yes, sergeant?""The doors is reinforced with Klatchian steel. Because of all the fighting in the time of the False Prophet Zog. And they opens outwards only. Like lock gates on a canal, you understand? If you push on 'em, they only locks more firmly together.""How are they opened, then?" said Urn."The Cenobiarch raises his hand and the breath of God blows them open," said the sergeant."In a logical sense, I meant.""Oh. Well, one of the deacons goes behind a curtain and pulls
"To the room? Why not? No one bothers with it."
"Could he make the doors open?" said Simony.

Vincent van Gogh Olive Trees 1889

2009-04-15T00:20:00.000-07:00

Vincent van Gogh Olive Trees 1889Vincent van Gogh Flower Beds in HollandClaude Monet Water LiliesClaude Monet Chemin dans les Bles a Pourville
knew why, when Vorbis spoke about Ephebe, his face was gray with hatred and his voice was tense as a wire. If there was no truth, what was there left? And these bumbling old men spent their time kicking away the pillars of the world, . . ."
Urn reappeared with another scroll.
"You shouldn't do this," said Brutha wretchedly. "All this . . ." His voice trailed off.
"I know about sureness," said Didactylos. Now the light, irascible tone had drained out of his voice. "I remember, before I was blind, I went to Omnia once. This was before the borders were closed, when you still and they'd nothing to replace them with but uncertainty. And they were proud of this?Urn was standing on a small ladder, fishing among the shelves of scrolls. Didactylos sat opposite Brutha, his blind gaze still apparently fixed on him."You don't like it, do you?" said the philosopher.Brutha had said nothing."You know," said Didactylos conversationally, "people'll tell you that us blind people are the real business where the other senses are concerned. It's not true, of course. The buggers just say it because it makes them feel better. It gets rid of the obligation to feel sorry for us. But when you can't see you do learn to listen more. The way people breathe, the sounds their clothes make

Spring is in the Air

2009-04-13T23:11:00.000-07:00

Spring is in the AirSalvador Dali The Great MasturbatorSalvador Dali Leda AtomicaJoseph Mallord William Turner The Grand Canal Venice
Now, Brutha-please put it away-I am going to ask you some questions. Do you understand?"
Brutha nodded.
"When you first came into my apartments, you were for a few seconds in the anteroom. Please describe it to me."
Brutha stared frog-eyed at him. But the turbines of recollection ground into life without his volition, pouring their words into "I am sorry, lord?"
"What was on the tray, my son?"
Images whirled in front of Brutha's eyes.
"On the tray was a thimble. A bronze thimble. And two needles. On the tray was a length of cord. There were knots in the cord. Three knots. And nine coins were on the tray. There was a silver cup on the tray, decorated the forefront of his mind."It is a room about three meters square. With white walls. There is sand on the floor except in the corner by the door, where the flagstones are visible. There is a window on the opposite wall, about two meters up. There were three bars in the window. There is a threelegged stool. There is a holy icon of the Prophet Ossory, carved from aphacia wood and set with silver leaf. There is a scratch in the bottom left-hand corner of the frame. There is a shelf under the window. There is nothing on the shelf but a tray."Vorbis steepled his long thin fingers in front of his nose."On the tray?" he said.

Jean Beraud La Rue de la Paix

2009-04-13T00:34:00.000-07:00

Jean Beraud La Rue de la PaixHenri Rousseau The Snake CharmerHenri Rousseau The Dream
rather a mess in here. No wonder you can't find things.
'Ergh.'
You ought to have a clear out.
'Oogh.'
Ah.'
Rincewind felt the presence retreat. Coin frowned.
'We can't 'I--can't remember. But we should put it back.'
'Okay. Just use sourcery. Blow them to bits and let's go home.'
'No. They live on magic. It'd only make them worse. I can't use magic.'
'Are you sure?' said Rincewind.
'I'm afraid your memory was very clear on the subject.'
'Then what shall we do?'let them get through,' he announced. 'They have horrible powers. They're trying to will the hole bigger, and they can do it. They've been waiting to break into our world for-’ he frowned -’ians?''Aeons,' said Rincewind.Coin opened his other hand, which had been tightly clenched, and showed Rincewind the small grey pearl.'Do you know what this is?' he said.'No. What is it?'
'I don't know!'

George Inness Spring Blossoms New Jersey

2009-04-10T00:11:00.000-07:00

George Inness Spring Blossoms New JerseyGeorge Inness RomeGeorge Inness Pond at Milton on the Hudson
'This is a mind I can use,' said the hat. 'Now I can fight back. I shall rally wizardry. There is room for only one magic in 'If we get a chance we must run,' said Rincewind.
'Did you have anywhere in mind?'
'It probably won't matter. We're doomed anyway.'
'Why?' said Nijel.
'Well,' said Rincewind, 'have you ever heard of the Mage Wars?'this world, and I embody it. Sourcery beware!''Oh, no,' said Rincewind under his breath.'Wizardry has learned a lot in the last twenty centuries. This upstart can be beaten. You three will follow me.'It wasn't a request. It wasn't even an order. It was a sort of forecast. The voice of the hat went straight to the hindbrain without bothering to deal with the consciousness, and Rincewind's legs started to move of their own accord.The other two also jerked forward, walking with the awkward doll-like jerking that suggested that they, too, were on invisible strings.'Why the oh, no?' said Conina, 'I mean, "Oh, no" on general principles I can understand, but was there any particular reason?'

Vincent van Gogh A Novel Reader

2009-04-09T01:28:00.000-07:00

Vincent van Gogh A Novel ReaderLeonardo da Vinci The Virgin and Child With St AnneLeonardo da Vinci Madonna With The Carnation
Coin smiled his golden smile.
'What did you say, Carding?' he said.
'It's the clear air, lord. And they look so close and small. I only said I could almost touch them-’
Coin waved him into silence. He extended one thin arm, rolling back his sleeve in the traditional sign that magic was Wizardry has done nothing for the world.'
'And if I tell you that I intend to dissolve the Orders and close the University? Although, of course, my senior advisors will be accorded all due status.'
Carding's knuckles whitened, but he shrugged.
'There is little to say,' he said. 'What good is a candle at noonday?'about to be performed without trickery. He reached out, and then turned back with his fingers closed around what was, without any shadow of a doubt, a handful of snow.The two wizards observed it in stunned silence as it melted and dripped on to the floor.Coin laughed.'You find it so hard to believe?' he said. 'Shall I pick pearls from rim-most Krull, or sand from the Great Nef? Could your old wizardry do half as much?'It seemed to Spelter that his voice took on a metallic edge. He stared intently at their faces.Finally Carding sighed and said rather quietly, 'No. All my life I have sought magic, and all I found was coloured lights and little tricks and old, dry books.

Andrea del Sarto Holy Family

2009-04-08T00:52:00.000-07:00

Andrea del Sarto Holy FamilyAndrea del Sarto Madonna of the HarpiesSalvador Dali Equestrian Fantasy - Portrait of Lady Dunn
Rincewind put his shoulder against a trembling bookshelf and forced its rustling volumes back into place with his knees. The noise was terrible.
Books of magic have a sort of life of their own. Some have altogether too much; for example, the first edition of the 'Oook!'[2]
'Right!'
Rincewind, as honorary assistant librarian, hadn't progressed much beyond basic indexing and bananafetching, and he had to admire the way the Librarian ambled among the quivering shelves, here running a black-leather hand over a trembling binding, here comforting a frightened Necrotelicomicon has to be kept between iron plates, the True Arte of Levitatione has spent the last one hundred and fifty years up in the rafters, and Ge Fordge's Compenydyum of Sex Majick is kept in a vat of ice in a room all by itself and there's a strict rule that it can only be read by wizards who are over eighty and, if possible, dead.But even the everyday grimoires and incunabula on the main shelves were as restless and nervy as the inmates of a chickenhouse with something rank scrabbling under the door. From their shut covers came a muffled scratching, like claws.'What did you say?' screamed Rincewind.

Edgar Degas Ballerina and Lady with a Fan

2009-04-07T00:59:00.000-07:00

Edgar Degas Ballerina and Lady with a FanEdgar Degas At the MillinersFrida Kahlo Without Hope
There was an old legend . . . what was it, now? If you threw a coin into the Ankh from the Brass Bridge you’d be sure to return? Or was it if you just threw ?11~D? into the Ankh? Probably the former. Most of the citizens, if they ‘I’m sure we citizens can sleep safely in one another’s beds knowing that no-one can make off with a five-thousand-ton bridge overnight, ‘ said Windle. Unlike Modo the dwarf, Sergeant Colon did know the meaning of the word ‘irony’. He thought it meant “sort of like iron”. He gave Windle a respectful grin.
‘You have to think quick to keep ahead of today’s international criminal, Mr Poons,’ he said.
‘Good man. Er. You haven’t, er, seen anyone else around, have you?’ ‘Dead dropped a coin into the river, would be sure to come back if only to look for the coin.A figure loomed out of the mist. He tensed.‘Morning, Mr Poons.’Windle let himself relax.‘Oh. Sergeant Colon? I thought you were someone else.’ ‘Just me, your lordship,’ said the watchman cheerfully. ‘Turning up like a bad copper.’‘I see the bridge has got through another night without being stolen, sergeant. Well done.’‘You can’t be too careful, I always say.’

Thomas Gainsborough The Morning Walk

2009-04-06T00:30:00.001-07:00

Thomas Gainsborough The Morning WalkThomas Gainsborough The Harvest WagonThomas Gainsborough Cottage Girl with Dog and Pitcher
Arthur sighed.
It was no life, or half-life or after-life or whatever it was, being a lower-middle-class wholesale fruit and vegetable merchant with an upper-class condition.
And then the music filtered in through the hole in the wall that he’d knocked out to put in the barred window.
‘Ow,’ he said, and clutched at his jaw. ‘Doreen?’
Reg Shoe thumped his portable podium.
‘- and, let He paused, just in case.
The raven, which was one of the extra large, fat ones that infested the rooftops of the University, put its head on one side and gave Reg Shoe a thoughtful look.
‘You know,’ said Reg, ‘sometimes I just feel like giving up -‘ The raven cleared its throat.
Reg Shoe spun around.me see, we shall not lie back and let the grass grow over our heads,’ he bellowed.’So what is your seven-point plan for Equal Opportunities with the living, I hear you cry?’The wind blew the dried grasses in the cemetery.The only creature apparently paying any attention to Reg was a solitary raven.Reg Shoe shrugged and lowered his voice. ‘You might at least make some effort,’ he said, to the next world at large.’Here’s me wearing my fingers to the bone’ - he flexed his hands to demonstrate - ‘and do I hear a word of thanks?’

Thomas Kinkade Clearing Storms

2009-04-03T00:42:00.000-07:00

Thomas Kinkade Clearing StormsThomas Kinkade Bridge of FaithThomas Kinkade Autumn Lane
wizards backed away.
‘ It can’t be intelligent, can it?’ said the Bursar.
‘All it’s doing is moving around slowly and eating things, ‘ said the Dean. ‘Put a pointy hat on it and it’d be a ‘I think it’s coming through the door, Archchancellor,’ he said, in a tiny voice.
‘Don’t be daft, man, we’re all leanin’ on it.’
‘I didn’t mean through, I mean . . . through . . .’
The Archchancellor sniffed.
‘What’s burnin’?’
‘Your boots, Archchancellor,’ said the Dean.faculty member,’ said the Archchancellor.‘I wouldn’t call that moving slowly,’ said the Dean.They looked expectantly at the Archchancellor.‘Run!’Portly though most of the faculty were, they hit a fair turn of speed up the cloisters, fought one another through the door, slammed it behind them and leaned on it. Very soon afterwards, there was a damp, heavy thud on the far side.‘We’re well out of that,’ said the Bursar.The Dean looked down.

Jean Francois Millet The sower

2009-04-02T00:33:00.000-07:00

Jean Francois Millet The sowerJean Francois Millet SpringJean Francois Millet Man with a hoe
Ridcully’s tones did not change as he turned around, except that a slight extra syrup was added.
A figure had apparently stepped out of the wall. It was human, but only by default. Thin, pale, and clad all in dusty black, the Patrician always put Ridcully in mind of a predatory flamingo, if you could find a flamingo that was black turned up in ones and twos, gradually filling the room.
The Patrician sat gloomily staring at the paper-work on his desk as they argued.
‘Well, it’s not us,’ said the head of the Alchemists. ‘Things are always flying through the air when you fellows are around,’ said Ridcully.and had the patience of a rock.‘Ah, Lord Vetinari,’ he said, ‘I am so glad you are unhurt.’ ‘I will see you gentlemen in the Oblong Office, ‘ said the Patrician. Behind him, a panel in the wall slid back noiselessly.‘I, um, I believe there are a number of guards upstairs trying to free -‘ the Chief Priest began.The Patrician waved a thin hand at him.’I wouldn’t dream of stopping them,’ he said. ‘It gives them something to do and makes them feel important. Otherwise they just have to stand around all day looking fierce and controlling their bladders. Come this way.’The leaders of the other Ankh-Morpork Guilds

Rene Magritte The Dangerous Liaison

2009-04-01T00:21:00.000-07:00

Rene Magritte The Dangerous LiaisonRene Magritte DonnaArthur Hughes The Long EngagementArthur Hughes The King's OrchardGeorge Inness October
Twenty-five minutes past the hour.
The Bursar wondered how it was supposed to happen. Did you hear - I think we’re going to have a very special visitor - hoofbeats outside? Did the door actually open or did He come through it? Silly question. He was renowned for His ability to get into sealed places - especially into sealed places, if you thought about it logically. Seal yourself in anywhere and it was only a matter of time.
The , Death arrives in person to usher him into the Beyond. The Bursar wondered why this was considered a plus - ‘Don’t know what you’re all looking at,’ said Windle, cheerfully. The Bursar opened his watch.
The hatch under the 12 snapped up.
‘Can you knock it off with all this shaking around?’ squeaked the demon.’I keeps on losing count.’
‘Sorry, ‘ the Bursar hissed. It was nine twenty-nine.
The Archchancellor stepped forward.Bursar hoped He’d use the door properly. His nerves were twanging as it was.The conversational level was dropping. Quite a few other wizards, the Bursar noticed, were glancing at the door.Windle was at the centre of a very tactfully widening circle. No-one was actually avoiding him, it was just that an apparent random Brownian motion was gently moving everyone away.Wizards can see Death. And when a wizard dies

Francisco de Goya Blind Man's Buff

2009-03-31T00:30:00.000-07:00

Francisco de Goya Blind Man's Buffchilde hassam Wayside Inn Sudbury MassachusettsEdgar Degas Cafe Concert SingerEdgar Degas A Carriage at the RacesFrida Kahlo What the Water Gave Me
The fog changes everything, doesn’t it?’ said Soll unhappily. ‘Er, do you think your little dog can find his way to the studio? He seems quite bright.’
‘Growl, growlAfter a few false turns the archway of Century of the Fruitbat passed overhead like a ghost. There were more people here; the site seemed to be filling up with lost wanderers who didn’t know where else to go.
There was a coach waiting outside Dibbler’s office and Dibbler himself stood beside it, stamping his feet.
‘Come on, come on,’ he said, ‘I’ve sent Gaffer ahead with the film. Get in, the pair of you.’
‘Can we travel in this?’ said Victor.,’ said Gaspode, and sat up and begged in what Victor at least recognized as a sarcastic way.‘My word,’ said Soll. ‘It’s as if he understands, isn’t it?’Gaspode barked sharply. After a second or two there was a barrage of excited answering barks.‘Of course, that’ll be Laddie,’ said Soll. ‘What a clever dog!’Gaspode looked smug.‘Mind you, that’s Laddie in a nutshell,’ said Soll, as they set off towards the barking. ‘I expect he could teach your dog a few tricks, eh?’Victor didn’t dare look down.