Manic Monday

Just another Manic Monday...

If you could have a servant come to your house every day for one hour, what would you have them do?
Cook a really good dinner. I would like it to be served and then the servant can leave as we start eating. I hate cooking and none of the members of my household have time for it anyway -- with the exception of Zoë. Unfortunately, her culinary skills are not exactly up to par and she is not yet allowed to use knives.

Has your life ever been changed by an apparently random occurrence?
Yes. Who's hasn't? I can think of two occasions alone where random conversations have led me to new jobs.

You're having dinner with several friends and acquaintances. They all criticize a close friend of yours (not knowing he/she is a friend). The criticism is unjustified. What would you do?
Almost all the answers I've read have said that they would stand up in defense of the friend and I can't help feeling that is definitely what we all hope we would do, but not necessarily what would happen in reality. I am not criticizing anyone because I agree that is the right response. I know I hope that for myself, but it is a little difficult to say until you are in the situation. What if these acquaintances are influential in some way that is important to your job? What if the unjustified criticism is relatively harmless? I think the specific circumstances would be important in this "what if."