That spontaneity makes Mr. Catsimatidis a unique character in a field made up almost entirely of people who have spent large parts of their careers in government and are practiced at the art of talking a lot without suggesting new policies.

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"Embassies are the visible face of our country, " says Yale's fast-talking dean of art, Robert Storr, who moonlights as chairman of the organization's professional fine arts committee and guides its curatorial mission.

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Within weeks of dating, we were collaborating on art projects and talking about opening a gallery.

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She disliked interviews and hated talking about the dark wellsprings of her art.

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More importantly, unlike Mr Haqqani, whether it is Pakistan's military or civilian leadership or the US administration, anyone dealing with her will have the confidence that she is just what she comes across as, a straight-talking politician rather than a career bureaucrat skilled in the art of double speak and intrigue.

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The proposal is only in the very early talking stages (the Times reports that the Los Angeles County Museum of Art also has its eye on the piece, which is unbuilt).

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The diamond skull has fulfilled its destiny, which is to be a talking point, what used to be miscalled a conversation piece: a way of chattering about art for people who know nothing about it.

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