Geller's new claim to fame: 'I designed the pyramid'

News in pictures
News in pictures
On Facebook
From the blogs

More than half of Afghanistan’s families live in extreme poverty

Leila is watching her baby intently, as his mouth moves trying to swallow the small blob of yellow p...

Time for a new approach to alcohol

Ambulances were called and three drunk teenagers were brought to my care. One was so drunk we had to...

Bahrain: One year on

I am used to endless lies and criticism from the BNP and its favourite blogster, as well as Islamist...

Paul Volcker stands tall against the banking lobby

Why is Europe, which likes to present itself as an opponent of speculative "Anglo-Saxon" finance, li...

* Uri Geller has made some pretty spurious claims in the past, but his latest declaration looks certain to test even the most fertile imagination.

The Israeli born psychic - famous for being able to bend spoons through the supposed power of his mind - is now saying that it was he who was the real brains behind the Louvre pyramid which was built in Paris in 1989.

In an interview with the Architects' Journal, Oxfordshire-based Geller claims that the pyramid's creator, the esteemed Chinese architect IM Pei ambushed what was his idea.

"I lived next to IM Pei and we still talk about pyramid power now," he says. "After he designed the Louvre, I rang him up and said you stole my idea."

It's not the first time that Geller has suffered from delusions of grandeur.

He once claimed to have played a major part in world peace by manipulating the mind of a representative of the defence minister of the former Soviet Union into signing the Nuclear Arms Reduction Treaty in Geneva back in 1991.

But this new boast not only sounds pretty dubious to say the least, it shows a fair amount of cheek towards one of the world's most respected architects.

Unfortunately when Pandora tried calling Pei's organisation in New York last night, no one was available to comment on the matter.

* Christian Slater has spent so much time in London these past two years, a bit of British modesty must be starting to rub off.

The Hollywood star is currently having another crack at the West End in the Garrick Theatre's production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest in which he first appeared in 2004.

This time round, some of the scenes have made him come over all bashful.

"I love performing here, but it would be most appreciated if, when I am standing on the stage in a towel, the ladies in the audience would holler a bit more," he told me at the play's after party which was held at Brown's on Shaftesbury Avenue.

"I've got to say, I'm rather self-conscious standing there. There's a lot of people and a lot of bright lights."

He did at least have the stomach to remove the baseball cap which has mysteriously accompanied his every appearance over the past weeks.

* It's been a long time coming but the Gordon Brown charm offensive is officially on.

The Chancellor kept newspaper picture desks busy all day on Tuesday when he accompanied Bill Clinton to a conference organised by the John Smith Foundation.

Then, later that day, he had members choking on their teacakes when he made a surprise appearance in the Commons tea rooms.

"It was quite a shock," says one. "In all the time I've been an MP, I've never seen Gordon Brown in there. You might sometimes see Jack Straw milling about but when you see a cabinet minister around there, it's normally because they're looking to drum up support.

"He was with a group of backbench MPs, whom he whisked off to the dining room for supper.

"He's clearly been given instructions that if he wants to be leader, he's got to learn to start shmoozing."

Those tectonic plates are on the move again.

* An e-mail pops into Pandora's inbox.

It's an invitation from Pacha nightclub in Victoria (a venue which provides "an experience that is both sophisticated and hedonistic") asking me to join them for their upcoming Easter Day bash which will run through the night from 10pm to 6am.

The idea is to help "celebrate the start of the summer jetset season in true hedonistic style".

To top it all off, they're expecting performances from Dirty Lil' Funker and some people calling themselves The Hoxton Whores.

Is nothing sacred these days?

* Earlier this week, Bill Clinton rallied dishevelled Labour troops by telling them: "Lighten up, you're doing really well."

The message needs to get down the lower end of the party ranks. A letter that reaches me from one disenchanted voter shows some of its members have all but given up.

"When I got home in North Kensington last Friday, a man arrived at my door claiming to be from the Labour Party and asked which way I would be voting at the local elections," it reads. "I told him I would be voting for the Lib Dems as a direct result of the disgust that I feel for Labour right now.

"The chap replied: 'Yes I can understand that', and then began bowing and apologising profusely before going on his way."

Come on boys, cheer up!

pandora@independent.co.uk

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Career Services

Day In a Page

How an abortion divided America

How an abortion divided America

Single mother who took a pill to end her pregnancy is now fighting a landmark prosecution in a conservative state
Can you master a language in a weekend?

Can you master a language in a weekend?

Ed Cooke insists he can use his techniques as a memory expert to help novices learn even the hardest tongues.
The 10 best heaters

The 10 best heaters

From the DeLonghi Retro Fan Heater to the Dimplex MicroFire
Coming soon to a shelf near you: The publishing industry has gone mad for film-style trailers

Coming soon to a shelf near you

The publishing industry has gone mad for film-style trailers
Mad, bad and delightful to know: How Lord Byron became a cultural superstar

How Lord Byron became a cultural superstar

As the poet takes centre stage in the West End, Boyd Tonkin looks into the life of the outspoken champion of the poor
Did they all live happily ever after? That's up to you...

Did they all live happily ever after? That's up to you...

New digital novel will overturn centuries of literary tradition by allowing readers to choose how they would like story to end
How to look good for less – Primark in copycat row

How to look good for less – Primark in copycat row

With London Fashion Week starting tomorrow, designers are closeted in studios putting finishing touches to their collections
James Lawton: Arsène and Arsenal are living in the past

James Lawton

Arsène and Arsenal are living in the past
How Docherty's resurgent Reds beat Dutch greats

How Docherty's resurgent Reds beat Dutch greats

United have met Ajax only once before in Europe, in 1976. The key performers recall an electric occasion
Civil war at Ajax

Civil war at Ajax

A rift between two club legends has torn the Dutch giants apart
Lewis Moody: For an idea of where England are headed, look at Wales now

Lewis Moody column

For an idea of where England are headed, look at Wales now
Geoff Toovey: Little gem with huge incentive to become king of the world

Geoff Toovey interview

Little gem with huge incentive to become king of the world
Picture preview: Portrait of London

Portrait of London

Picture preview
No secularism please, we're British

No secularism please, we're British

Arguments about the role of religion in national life have recently acquired a new urgency
Harold Tillman: 'Chinese tourists can save the high street – if we let them'

Harold Tillman interview

'Chinese tourists can save the high street – if we let them'