Twilight in the Desert Twilight in the Desert Twilight in the Desert: The Coming Saudi Oil Shock and the World Economy is a book by American investment banker Matthew Simmons. The text was initially published on June 10, 2005 by John Wiley & Sons. The book focuses on the petroleum industry of Saudi Arabia and posits that this country is approaching—or already at—its peak oil output and cannot substantially increase its oil production. —Review on theoildrum.com Simmons' prediction of rising oil prices made in "Twilight in the Desert" led to a bet with "New York Times" columnist John Tierney in August 2005. The two
Christ in the Desert Christ in the Desert Christ in the Desert, or Christ in the Wilderness () is a painting by Russian artist Ivan Kramskoi, reflecting the Fasting of Christ. Kramskoi was offered a professorship for the painting by the Russian Academy of Arts Council, but having learned that in the beginning of 1873, rejected it (he had been expelled from the Academy earlier, and chose to keep his "youthful commitment to independence from the Academy"). Subsequently, it became one of the favourite paintings of Pavel Tretyakov, who bought it for his gallery in the year the painting was finished. The theme of