An Eeeevil Architect?

Yesterday I went to a talk given by a well-known architect, Daniel Libeskind. I have some friends who don't really like his work, and one of them asked me beforehand to see if he was like Saruman (from Lord of the Rings), able to sway people's minds simply with the power of his voice.
I have to say, it was a pretty darn good analogy. I asked him about it later, and it turns out he's heard Libeskind speak before. "He could sell pants to a snake," is how he put it.
It's not only his compelling turns of phrase - light in the skies of Colorado and light in the eyes of its people was one example (he was at his best flattering the Coloradoans) - but also his manner of speaking. The tone of his voice and his facial expressions. Very personable and charming.
So when I was thinking of my friend's allusion to him being like Saruman, I started thinking "What if he were evil? We'd never know it. We'd be swayed by how natural it all sounded."
Presentation skills are often overlooked in architectural school, but I bet evil genius school has a minor in it.

Spring Thing

Had a dinner party for 8 last night that went pretty well...
Everyone had fun, but I didn't get to participate as much as I would have liked to. That was mainly because I ran out of time and was doing too much preparing of food during the party. Running out of time also meant that I didn't get to make all the dishes I wanted to. If I could do it all over again, I'd accept Aileen's offer of help earlier in the afternoon.
The tableau: Table set for 8, white dishes on a deep purple tablecloth accented with subtle embroidered flowers on the corners. The white dishes are topped with a folded white napkin and a small white plate printed with a colorful spring flower (four different patterns). In the center, a large clear vase filled with colorful springtime flowers.
The menu: Appetizers - Momos (Nepalese dumplings) wih cilantro dipping sauce, fresh mozzarella, garlic stuffed olives, Main Course - Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Garlic Green Beans, Saffron Rice (omitted for time constraints), Dessert - Banana Spring Rolls with Vanilla Ice Cream, Chocolate Sauce and Caramel Rum Sauce (omitted because of difficulties making it) with coffee.
The guests had fun and enjoyed the food, so I'd call it a success. :)

For Reuben

Captain Blackbead Did What?
- Shel Silverstein

The sea is a-roarin', the sea gulls they screech,
The bosun he rants and he raves.
And the whole scurvy crew
Says, "It's true, yes it's true,
Ol' Captain Blackbeard's shaved."
We had buried some treasure (and bodies as well)
And was just sailin' back from the cave,
When he calls fer boiled water
And stomps down below
An' gor' but he comes up shaved.
There's a chickenish stubble, and fishbelly skin
On that face, once so blazin' and brave.
And his ol' faithful parrot
Can hardly bear it
Since ol' Captain Blackbeard shaved.
When he shouts "Board and sink her!"
It sounds like a clinker
And gets lots of laughs from the slaves.
And his loud bawdy songs
Seem a little bit wrong
Since ol' Captain Blackbeard shaved.
Now no one is fearing his look or his lash
Or his threats of a watery grave.
And things ain't the same
In the piratin' game
Since ol' Captain Blackbeard shaved.

Blogging Sahara

I have a few minutes during my lunch hour to blog. The problem is, as soon as I sat down to write, any and all interesting thoughts leave my head...
[later]
Hmm... had an interesting conversation about cussing in different languages, which I don't have time to describe in detail.
If only I had a dictation device here. You'd have a lot more interesting things to read.

Back to the ol' grindstone...