Inspired Conversations
Posted by Allison Mack | Filed under Blog
Ok, so welcome to my very first “Inspired Conversation!” Please watch and enjoy!
Get to know what Ward is about today and check back tomorrow with more info on the inspiring thing he is doing! I thought I would break it up for y’all!
Check it out!
xo
allison
Tags: conversation, inspiration, Interviews, mondonation, ward bingham
64 Responses to “Inspired Conversations”
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mar1013 Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 8:05 amI believe in this comunity and the changes it can do in us.
Well, i will post more beliefs later, i have to think more about it and do a list
Mar
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Marcos Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 8:14 amVery good…
Loved it. Completely…
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Lydia Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 8:26 amI LOVE the t-shirt idea. That is just so cool!
I’ll check out the website for sure.
I think there lots of things I’d like to put on a t-shirt.
May I add that you look sunnily fabulous in the video.:-)
Thank you for starting this series of ‘inspired conversations’. You’re the best!
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Amanda Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 8:42 amWow, that is such a great idea! Love the shirts and the ideals behind them.
It’s so true that the internet has come such a long way in such a short time. When I was in 7th grade I had a penpal in Sao Paulo, Brazil. I have boxes and boxes of letters that I kept because we wrote for years. This was in the early 90’s and no one I knew had email. It took two weeks to get a letter! I loved writing and receiving those hand written letters but email would have been so much easier. We lost touch when we graduated high school and I would love to know where she is now. If we had had email back then, maybe we would still be in touch today.
By the way, I love your earrings. So cute.
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Corrie Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 8:51 amWhat a great idea! Well…his and your Inspired Conversation one as well.
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Amanda Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 9:06 amAlso, just a suggestion, but what about providing a direct link under the videos for the websites of your fabulous friends?
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Krystal Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 9:47 amYay! I loved it! I just ordered my shirt I can’t wait til I get it! Let the spread of beautiful beliefs begin!
Krystal
Georgia -
The Friday Philosopher Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 9:59 amWho would have thought that so much good can come from something a simple as a T-Shirt.
I have one that I made a few years ago, with “I believe in me!” printed over a smiley face. It’s tattered and faded now but everytime I have warn it, somebody has always commented on it.
I’m going to take a leaf out of Krystal’s book and go and order myself a new shirt!
Friday
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Heather Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 10:03 amThis is a wonderful idea! I think the t-shirt idea is fabulous! It’s so inspiring to see people like this who are trying to bring the world together and get us all talking to eachother with compassion and understanding. I love this and I can’t wait to get started on this Mack Event.
Thank you for this wonderful new idea and portion of the blog. It just goes to prove that every simple idea can turn into something bigger and more inspiring. Wonderful
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Silke Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 10:09 amWhat a great Video!
I belive in Love and the family! I Love my husband for 18 years and he is my best fried!
If you find your love you find your life and your way! -
John Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 10:20 amOh! That was cool.. Good, fun and really special idea with the t-shirts .. I’ll check it out .
And keep up this reallt great video interviews!
//John
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Stephanie Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 10:24 amI love it!! And I love the shirts idea!
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Lou Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 10:38 amunfortunately, with beliefs, there are people out there who believe in hate. not just people who warp the values of their peers, but people who create their own set of values which inspire anger, fear, and hate.
But it’s ideas like Ward’s that offset those people so much are remind everyone that they are outnumbered 1,000+ to 1. Keep it up, Ward!!
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Scott Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 10:51 amI like him, he has a lot of genuine enthusiasm, you can see it in his face.
The internet is impersonal. That’s its drawback. You can create communication and community, but ultimately you’re NOT close. That’s why I can tell you I’ve been through some bad things. I don’t know you. You don’t know me. And in the grand scheme of things, chances are very good that’s how it will remain. In the short time I’ve been here, I already revealed more in blog postings than I’ve told people I’ve known offline, both all my life and for brief instances with minimal risk of spreading.
I want to say I believe in the human capacity to love, but in reality, I’m more likely to believe in the capacity to hate, not as something I want to promote, but as something that exists. I do highly value the fantasy of love, something I rarely see appreciated to its fullest extent (as in beyond the bounds of romance or friendship).
And I realized the reason it isn’t highly valued is because it’s treated as a weakness. Many elements of our world promote aggressiveness and self-centeredness. This makes the natural response “take take take” under the view that it’s in limited stock and the person must tap it dry.
I have to admit. I would love a world where love could flourish. At the same time, I have the very hypocritical issue of not being an example of the change I would like to see in the world, as Gandhi put it. I’ve been through the wringer.
I’m not a very inspiring person, I know that. I can only be myself. After getting knocked down repeatedly, I learned to hide my heart, as this poem eloquently puts it:
Pierrot
Took his heart
And hung it
On a wayside wall.
He said,
“Look, Passers-by,
Here is my heart!”
But no one was curious.
No one cared at all
That there hung
Pierrot’s heart
On the public wall.
So Pierrot
Took his heart
And hid it
Far away.
Now people wonder
Where his heart is
Today.I can’t pretend to be what I’m not. I can, however, be who I am that my surroundings will allow me to be. I can feel bad about lying to where I rarely ever do. I can pour my heart into helping someone when they need it, that has little to do with my feelings. Despite my own troubles, I can even still help people I know online deal with their own problems, something I’ve done since elementary school (I’ve been there for everything from suicidal ideation to spouse abuse to fears of being stalked and a slew of other issues). I can look for the light in a person, even when the darkness obscures it. I can see patterns to life, and realize the intricate nature of existence if I look for the signs.
I might be different, and maybe unacceptable by some standards, but I can be me.
I actually didn’t intend to write ALL of that, but it happened. Go figure.
Good luck with these endeavours, they seem very spirited, and it’s nice to see a work of light coming to fruition.
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David Hayes Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 11:53 amI knew it! I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT! I just KNEW that if Lex Luthor was given just a little encouragement he could have turned out to be remarkable (in a positive way) … and there he is making T-shirts for the betterment of mankind! Way to go Lex!!!
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Melissa Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 12:01 pmOh wonderful Allison! I like what you say about love.Love can hurt you or hurt somebody in ways you can’t describe, but Love is so so important in this life, without love we couldn’t go anywhere. Love for friends, for you parents,love for your pets,love for someone you like,etc. Love it’s special, unique and It inspires you!
Great,Allison.
Bye,Melissa. -
David Hayes Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 12:02 pmOh … I noticed the comment Allison made about Wales. Way to go Friday Philosopher! You’re famous! And it’s true. Before the internet, the only person I knew about that lived in Wales was Jonah.
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Lizeth Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 12:07 pmYALL INSPIRED ME!!!!! that is so awesome….
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Amanda Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 12:12 pmI caught that too David….so that’s where Jonah went. So, Wales is responsible for Jonah and Charlotte Church. Who knew?
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Amanda Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 12:13 pmI forgot to add Friday and Catherine Zeta-Jones to my list.
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The Friday Philosopher Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 12:18 pmI’ve never met Jonah David. Must have been a different Whale!
I noticed the comment too, but I didn’t want to let it get to my head, if it gets any bigger, I may not be able to escape the Whale next time we surface!
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The Friday Philosopher Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 12:20 pmCome to think of it, I’m not sure who Jonah David is! Maybe he should be Jonah, David instead?
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Amanda Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 12:43 pmWhat’s so funny Friday is that I knew what you meant even without the comma. scar-ry
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Maria Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 12:54 pmwow that was just awesome!!! And I would love a t-shirt of those!! I’m going to see if I can order one, can they come to Puerto Rico??? I hope they can!!
Anyway, isn’t it great to be able to know that they are people out there wanting to make a change in the world and wanting to inspire. Can I just say I love what you said about love! I’ve had my heartbroken a couple of times but I still beleive in love. In how can it change people and affect people. Love I think something that everyone needs in their life because if you don’t receive love you can’t give it.
HEY can that be our next topic? Like what does love mean to you or I don’t know, what does seeing love around you inspire you to do? Can it be allison??
well, anyway keep up the conversations they’re awesome!!!!!
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The Friday Philosopher Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 1:05 pmI’m glad you did Amanda, I, on the other hand had to read it back twice before I realised I had missed it out!
I should be ashamed of myself!
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Taty Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 1:55 pmGreat interview, very interesting… And I especially like the t-shirt idea.
Tks for sharing!!!
xoxo
Taty -
Tomás Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 2:08 pmDear friend:
I often have wondered up to what point the actor identifies itself with the character. Providing that I have seen you to act, it has seduced your artistic expressiveness. Very unlike the protagonist of Smallville who, with all my respects, saves his deficiencies with help of the special effects that stamp heroism on the character.
You, nevertheless, define yourself for the naturalness. Are you this way in the real life? Thank you for giving to a pilgrim the opportunity to speak with an actress. Please, keep this freshness that characterizes you. Do not lose it. If you visit Barcelona, do not hesitate to say it to me, I will be been charmed with of presuming of you.
By the way, this text is translated from Spanish, so you do not surprise to find some imprecisions.
A sweet kiss,
Tomás (www.cinehistoria.com).
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DEFORT Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 2:38 pmAnd the text variant is not present? I not catch all words. Or in brief that it for the guy:) Allison more often itself in a shot put:)
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shinefloyd / luigi Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 3:18 pmMuy bien!!
a new T shirt…!!! lolok… Allison.. do you believe in pizza??
I have pizza… but I am so far… I am in south america… lolGood interview and cool idea… you are being great!
go ahead.ps… maybe we need the subtitles…
thanks. -
Aysha Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 3:52 pmWow…absolutely amazing and awe-inspiring in what he is doing and what it means for us as a human race.
That interview gave me chills! Absolutely captivating and heartfelt. I think I am going to buy me a bumper sticker about my beliefs now! lol
Keep ‘em coming, Allison. Brilliant!
Take Care,
Aysha -
Robin Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 3:54 pmGreat interview, felt really natural and not too polished or false.
Ward explained the meaning behind Mondonation without appearing preachy (is that a word?), it was fun and you left us all with a cliffhanger, well done.
You’ve also done your job, as i’ve already been looking at various sites to do with Ward’s cause, good job…who says life doesn’t imitate art eh!
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David Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 4:00 pmI’ve had several of Mondonation’s shirts for a couple of years now (found out about Ward and his work through the Parker appeal) and they still take pride of place in my wardrobe. There is something very liberating about wearing those things you value on your sleeve, or in this case back, for all the world to see. A statement of “Who I Am” rather than hiding away, towing the line and blending in as so many of us do, if that makes any sense. I don’t think I’ve ever worn them without someone making a comment.
Ward is an amazing individual and his work and company are really pushing the boundaries of socially responsible business modeling and practices. If you get the chance you guys should check out his story, it’s quite incredible.
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taylor nikole Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 4:44 pmI believe…
that art and words are the source of inspiration….
and with inspiration comes works or beautiful art and poetry.I too also belive in love….
I value the love i recieve and share with the people i care about.I could see these shirts being a huge problem at school.
although they tell us to express ourselves.. and its okay…
i don’t see them agreeing with us stating our beliefs…
beliefs are offensive?
Its ridiculousI also belive in change…
that change helps us grow and mature…
and morph into who we are ‘meant to’ or ‘want to’ be -
andrea AM Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 5:15 pmi beleive in my life (you)!!
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andrea AM Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 5:26 pmA dream is a wish your heart makes
When you’re fast asleep
In dreams you will loose your heartache
Whatever you wish for you keep
Have faith in your dreams and someday
Your rainbow will come smiling through
No matter how your heart is grieving
If you keep on believing
The dream that you wish will come trueA dream is a wish your heart makes
When you’re feeling small
Alone in the night you whisper
Thinking no-one can hear you at all
You wake with the morning sunlight
To find fortune that is smiling on you
Don’t let your heart be filled with sorrow
For all you know tomorrow
The dream that you wish will come trueThem you can dream, them you can star
A dream is a wish you make with your heart (x2)A Dream is a wish your heart makes
When you’re fast asleep
In dreams you will lose your heartache
Whatever you wish for you keep
You wake with the morning sunlight
to find fortune that’s smilling on you
don’t let your heart be filled sorrow
for all you know tomorrow
the dream that you wish will come trueNo matter how your heart is grieving
If you keep on believing
The dream that you wish will come trueThem you can dream, them you can star
A dream is a wish you make with your heart -
taylor nikole Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 5:32 pmheheh i think im going to get a shirt
hmmm
and i think i know what its going to say too…
and im going to wear it around school
XD -
skahahoo Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 6:11 pmHey! I have a mondonation shirt! Mine says “I believe in the power of pizza.” Hehe.
I gave my friends their own shirts with their beliefs as holidays gifts a few years ago, and they all really loved them. Part of the proceeds go to the charity of your choice. And the shirts are from American Apparel (at least the ones I got were), so they’re not sweatshopped. I don’t know if they still have this version, but I found out about them because I saw one of my friends wearing the t-shirt that lets you write in your own belief with a permanent marker. So that makes a pretty cool gift if you want to support mondonation but you’re not sure what to write for the people you’re giving the shirts to. Most of my friends had food-themed beliefs…lol…but one of my friends combined song lyrics from Pat Benetar and the Beatles to come up with, “I believe love is a battlefield, but it’s still all we need.” I thought that one was neat.
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taylor nikole Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 6:17 pmsooo in other foods…
i believe that food is yummy
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taylor nikole Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 6:23 pmnot foods… words
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arash Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 7:28 pmI thought we were doing David’s musical T-shirts, I was wearing mine today it says;
Lima & Mexican
beans
what a duetBut sure if we are doing believe today I’ll go with that.
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arash Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 7:40 pmHey everybody, I’ll be away for three weeks, can you Pleeeeeeeeeease not post anything too meaningful until I come back?
I may “post” the word; “card” for every body from my vacation. -
Brittany Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 7:51 pmHey Allison, I absolutely loved yor interview with Ward! It was awesome and very inspirational. I love his organization, thoughts and your blogs have definetly become something big! It’s amazing what you’ve done and I can’t be more happy for you! Can’t wait for next post! I might be late though. computer is dead
Bye for now, Britt XoXO
P.S. You looked absolutely gorgeous in the video! -
Puffy Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 8:44 pmGreat video, can’t wait for part two.
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Puffy Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 8:47 pmp.s. We’ll miss you while you’re away arash!
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arash Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 9:03 pmThanks puffy, It is so strange, in real life I am more of a cave man, until 6 months ago I even refused to get a cell phone. My friends bought me one for my birthday. I don’t do msn and massenger. But this site pulled me in. Although we are geographically so far apart but I do feel like I will be “away” from my community. It feels great when you “belong” to somewhere although it physically does not exist. And we don’t even have all the same ideas or believes but we all appreciate “unity” and I think that is what ward was talking about.
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Medina Says:
September 6th, 2008 at 1:06 ami believe in jor el
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jane Says:
September 6th, 2008 at 3:00 amthe t-shirts are a very cool idea but mondonation only donate $1 to your chosen cause (you can choose to add an extra donation of your own). that seems a bit pathetic to me for a t-shirt that costs $35.
i like the idea of the message they spread but i think calling themselves “a hybrid type of business model, mixing for profit with large charitable contributions” is a bit cheeky. The large charitable contributions aren’t coming from them, they are merely allowing people to donate their own money to charities through their website, only the $1 donations are coming from the company’s money. That doesn’t make them unique or better than most companies (which these days routinely donate to charity).
I was disappointed to discover this because the idea is great. I hope they up the amount going to charity in the future.
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mar1013 Says:
September 6th, 2008 at 4:40 ami did my list of beliefs and i think i would have to make or buy a lot of t-shirts to write all of them.
I like the idea of putting my beliefs in t-shirts but on the other hand i think that some beliefs are “dangerous” to write in a t-shirt and to make them public.
You never know how people would read it because there are too many prejudices. -
Vegas911 Says:
September 6th, 2008 at 5:57 amOh Allison, one of your best ideas yet!! I LOVE IT
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Jennifer Says:
September 6th, 2008 at 7:47 amWow what a wonderful idea! I love the tee-shirt idea. I’m going to check out Wards website. Allison sweetie you looked so beautiful in the video!
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Smallvillekent Says:
September 6th, 2008 at 4:26 pmAllison I liked the interview. Ward has an interesting business going. I like the T-shirt with your beliefs on it. I think I my get one. Till tomorrow. See Ya!
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Dick B Says:
September 6th, 2008 at 5:43 pmI believe if you eat the meat you better be ready to kill the cow.
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The Friday Philosopher Says:
September 6th, 2008 at 6:52 pmI believe that 90% of the planet would become vegetarian over night, if faced with having to kill their own food, Dick.
If only that 90% had the same respect and drive to preserve the lives of their own kind. Perhaps then the World we live in would be more than simply tolerable!
Friday
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Hammad Says:
September 6th, 2008 at 8:19 pmLove is our search for surety in someone other than ourselves.
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Hammad Says:
September 6th, 2008 at 8:27 pmLove is our search for surety and its resolution in someone other than ourselves.
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Brenna Says:
September 6th, 2008 at 10:05 pmWow. That was an amazing interview. I loved seeing Canada Place in the background. Oh how I miss Vancouver. I believe in the power of laughter. I believe that everyone has second chances…
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taylor nikole Says:
September 6th, 2008 at 11:12 pmhaha friday
im already a veggie head!it makes me feel good about myself
i didn’t really do it for the animals…
i did it to test my own boundaries…
how long can i really go without something i like?
ya know…
but meat was really hard on my stomach in the first place anyways… -
Gaia Says:
September 7th, 2008 at 12:47 amawsome! You really know how to talk to people’s heart!
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The Friday Philosopher Says:
September 7th, 2008 at 2:46 amI know what you mean Taylor, I myself am a carnivore, but apparently, our body’s are not designed to digest meat!
I won’t mention the facts about un-digested meat; it wouldn’t be appropriate!
I’ve often thought about becoming vegetarian, but every time I try, I get a few days into it before giving in!
I guess that shows just how little will power I really have!
Friday
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Puffy Says:
September 7th, 2008 at 3:46 amI managed to be vegetarian for a few years in my early 20s but eventually gave in to peer pressure to resume eating meat. Now I give money to animal protection charities to try and assuage my guilt.
I do however refuse to eat lamb or veal, because the thought of eating anything “cute” helps bolster the willpower to resist. So maybe I can blame it on the cows and chickens for me eating them…. if they made an effort to be cuter, I’d find it easier to resist eating them.
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The Friday Philosopher Says:
September 7th, 2008 at 5:13 amI know what you mean Puffy, although now that you’ve made them aware, Greenpeace and other animal rights activists will probably be ransacking farms all over the place soon; putting bows on the not so aesthetically pleasing animals in an attempt to stop us from eating them!
Of course, there is always the chance that the meat eaters who are aware of their sinister plans, won’t see this act the way it is intended, and instead think that the farmers have started to gift wrap food!
Friday
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taylor nikole Says:
September 7th, 2008 at 12:11 pmick… what if we were the prey…
i don’t think we’d want to be eaten :-/
haha -
Amanda Says:
September 8th, 2008 at 8:18 amThree whole weeks without Arash? Seriously, how do you get a three week vacation and how can I sign up?
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Nandie Oosthuizen Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:55 pm2 such wonderful ideas! One being the shirt and the other being the idea to have ‘inspired conversations’.
-Nandie
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