Cosmology: The Universe is Expanding, and Accelerating the expansion.

According to current knowledge in Cosmology, it's believed that the universe is expanding, not only that, but due to the forces of Dark Energy (vacuum force), which accounts for more than 3/4 of all of the Mass Energy in the universe, it's expanding and accelerating, outer objects expanding at a faster rate.
The typical example is painting dots on a rubber inflatable balloon. When inflating, the dots start to separate, and the more one blows, the more separated these become.
Well, nice example. However, there are many instances in which entire galaxies have collided with other galaxies. Even our own Milky Way Galaxy is moving at a rate of 300,000 miles per hour in the direction of the Andromeda Galaxy. That's roughly 134 Km/s.
So, what happened to the idea that all objects in the universe are separating from each other, and accelerating at that?
Maybe scientists should stop using analogies to explain complex theories.
I admit it, I am confused. : )

Stendhal: The Red and the Black.

I finally had time to watch Sofia Coppola's "Marie Antoinette," however, three minutes into the movie, I understood why the critics didn't like it. So, I decided to spare myself the time. Nothing personal, Sofia. In fact, I enjoyed "Lost in Translation" very much.
Instead, I watched a film that I had long postponed: The Red and the Black, based on the novel by the same name by Stendhal, subtitled: 'Chronicle of 1830.'
It starts with a mysterious citation by Stendhal at the onset of the book:
"Un Roman : C'est un miroir qu'on promène le long d'un Chemin."
"A novel is a mirror that strolls along a highway."

I am not an expert on the subject, but I recommend this blog:
http://readingmiddlemarch.blogspot.com/2006/10/introducing-stendhals-red-and-black.html

And, of course, the Wikipedia article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Red_and_the_Black

In looking for its wider meaning in the Internet, I also came across this beautiful quotation:

"Il n'y a jamais nulle part où aller qu'en dedans." Doris Lessing

I hope you like it too.