Hi! I'm Telana Simpson, and I'm trading one matchstick for offices. I started this project on 12 June 2006, and will be trading items up until I get offices. Do you want an exclusive party with rock band WONDERboom, my latest item up for trade? Send me an email (onematchstick@gmail.com) or give me a buzz or sms on +27837302979 to make your offer. When I get my offices, I'll be contributing some space to mentoring a start-up entrepreneurial enterprise. I'm in Jozi, South Africa, and will go anywhere in South Africa to make the trade- I'll even consider anywhere in the world if the trade is right!
PS- watch the movie about my story here. If you're not sure what I'm talking about, read this 2 pager that explains my story so far. It'll make a light bulb turn on- promise!
     
matchstick > green pen > Rodrigus > THE Books > First Sighting Wine > Holiday in Utopia > R3000 Cash > Balloon Safari >
Party with DJ Al > 375 Springleap.com T-Shirts > WONDERboom "Rock the House" Experience > ?

Make me an offer for the
WONDERboom Experience now!
Current Offers here.

555Tshirts
25 January 2011

I'm on a mission of note to finish my tenth trade by the end of February, and the ideas have been flying in of how to reach the 158 people I still need to meet to trade with, for my last 158 Springleap T-shirts!

You'll have noticed the "Stash or stack the Castles" idea, and the onematchstick Bachelor and Bachelorette reality-internet-projects that are underway, and today onematchstick took part in 555Tshirts. I've got a few more ideas up my (t-shirt) sleeve, and those you'll see taking shape over the next few weeks.

Today though is about Jonathan Kapelus wearing a 555Tshirts' T-shirt sponsored by onematchstick. I'm experiencing such support of my dream, that it is always a privilege to be a part of someone else's dream (and I do so enjoy it too!)

555tshirts - Jonathan Kapelus

555Tshirts is a "socially responsible marketing experiment". Jonathan will be wearing five hundred and fifty five sponsored T-shirts over the next 2 years, and will be giving away over R3 million to worthy causes! Each person or business that sponsors a T-shirt, gets to have what ever they want on the T-Shirt for the day, and Jonathan will also be promoting whatever the sponsor wants for the day. The sponsor also gets to nominate a charity for the day, which gets exposure too, and its share of funds raised through 555Tshirts.

I managed to nab T-shirt number 002! And so Jonathan has been wearing a T-shirt with onematchstick on it all day. He's also been handing out my matchstick business cards, and tonight is at the Silicon Cape networking event to help me find more people who will trade with me.

The Charity that I nominated is the Stroke Survivors Foundation, which my friend Ray Chaplin (Adventurer, campaigner and educator) introduced me to. Ray is the support for George Scola, one of the founders who is walking 2400 km's for his "Bring it on" campaign. George has survived a stroke, and has now walked 2000 km's of his goal to raise awareness for the Stroke Survivors Foundation.

Ray, George and Rod in the Citizen Newspaper

Rod the Frog (my second trade) even joined George and Ray for a few weeks and on his trip he helped them with a few fundraising ideas and he found his soulmate, Antoinette.

If you'd like to sponsor one of Jonathan's T-shirts, then get in touch with him via his website or twitter!

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posted by Telana @ 10:11:00 PM, , links to this post


The Bachelorette – onematchstick Edition
23 January 2011

If you're looking for an active, intelligent and lovely date who enjoys the outdoors - then you're going to want to meet Laura Tyrer, The onematchstick Bachelorette.

The onematchstick Bachelorette - Laura

Laura has a background in journalism and editing in the South African mining industry, and now works for the WWF helping to spread information about climate change. She makes people dress up in panda suits at rock concerts to create awareness, and then blogs at global events like the recently held UNFCCC negotiations in Cancun, Mexico, where she tracked the South African delegation on behalf of tcktcktck's Adopt-a-Negotiator project.

When Laura's not looking for ways to make a positive difference to people's lives and the world we share, you will find her hiking or rock climbing in the mountains, or maybe even splashing around in mountain pools. While in the city she salsas to the rhythm of Latin American music or centres herself in a yoga pose.

Laura is fond of good literature and stimulating conversation and can just as easily change gears and unwind and be mischievous!

In this video I chat to Laura so you can get to know The onematchstick Bachelorette a bit more.


If you would like to be a part of The onematchstick Bachelorette, and get a chance to meet Laura in person and possibly win the final Date with her, then here's what you need to know:

How The Bachelorette – onematchstick Edition is going to work:
  1. You need to sign up to meet The Bachelorette, Laura, by buying online, for yourself, one of my Springleap T-shirts (with beers) (R183 plus R36 for delivery = R219) and sending in a photo and a sentence or two about yourself, (or for the more daring, a 30 to 45 second movie clip introducing yourself). (Note: you'll need the T-shirt for step 3). Entries close Friday 4 March 2011 - extended to Friday 11 March 2011.
  2. You can interact with Laura via her Facebook Fanpage, and ask her questions to get to know her.
  3. Then you'll attend a cocktail party on Saturday 12 March 2011 at the fab FTV Cedar Square (dress code is Springleap T-shirts), to meet Laura in person, and make your impression.
  4. At the cocktail party, Laura will be choosing 10 lucky entrants to go on dates with, (and we might make a little movie clip about you).
  5. At this party you will also get to mingle with all the eligible ladies who enter into The Bachelor ;)
  6. If you're one of the lucky top 10, you will have to think up a date to take Laura out for - your choice: anything from a coffee, to a dinner or the theatre! Whatever you choose, to allow you and Laura to get to know each other some more.
  7. The ten dates will take place over the 2 weeks after the cocktail party.
  8. The ten finalists will then attend another cocktail party after all the dates, where Laura, The Bachelorette, will then announce her choice, and invite the winning entrant for the Winning Date to be spoilt with her at Lapa Fo, Joburg's best Pizza restaurant, in Emmarentia. And there are other prizes to be won!
  9. And who knows, maybe you'll make a new friend or find the love of your life! Anything is possible!

How to sign up:

Buy your Springleap Tshirt. Here's how:
  1. If you haven't registered yet on Springleap.com, now's the time to do so.
  2. When you are logged in, choose the T-shirt you want. You can choose ANY design. (If you cant find a T-shirt you like, then choose a Gift Voucher that you can use later when new designs become available.)
  3. When you find the T-shirt you want, click on the size you want (there is a link which explains the sizing and the ladies T-shirts are a lady's cut). Once you click on the size, it gets added to your "shopping cart".
  4. When you've finished adding your T-shirts to your shopping cart, click on the shopping cart icon on the top right hand of the screen.
  5. Enter in your delivery details, and where it says "if you have a Springleap coupon, enter it here:" you enter the code, which is: onematchstick (all lower case, one word). This is a VERY IMPORTANT STEP! Please remember to add the code to track your purchase as a trade with me!
  6. Click the confirm and pay button.
  7. Check your details, and then you can choose to pay by EFT or by Credit Card.
  8. Just follow the prompts and you will have finished your order, and your T-shirt will be delivered in a few days.
  9. Email me your Springleap Order number on onematchstick@gmail.com to finalised this part of your entry, and make sure your name is on the guest list for the cocktail party.

Something about yourself:

The mimimum to enter is to atleast send in a sentence or two about yourself, and a photo. For those more daring, you can send in a video clip instead. Get a friend to help by holding your phone, or set up your camera to make a short, 30 to 45 second movie clip to introduce yourself to Laura, The Bachelorette. It can be as simple as you want, or as creative as you can imagine. We're not looking for professionalism in the cinematography, but just a few words so that Laura can have a sense of who you are.

And yes, your few lines about yourself or your video will be made public on the internet! This is a reality–internet–project after all ;). Pseudonyms allowed. So you might have to get out your comfort zone to take part- but it'll be well worth it!

The few lines or the video can be uploaded directly to The Bachelorette's Fan page on Facebook, or to YouTube and the link can be added to the Fan page on Facebook or emailed to me to add.

If you have any questions, then get in touch!

So, what are you waiting for? Enter now to be part of The onematchstick Bachelorette!

The fine print aka T & C's:
By entering you give onematchstick permission to blog about you, video you at the Bachelorette related events, and have full usage rights of all the material.
And if something out of our control comes up, we reserve the right to change any of the dates or the process of this project.

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posted by Telana @ 11:57:00 PM, , links to this post


The Bachelor – onematchstick Edition

"Published socialite, inveterate gentleman, successful young professional who enjoys the finer things in life with a stylish demeanour that appears to be a dying art in our time."

That's how our Bachelor, Ian van der Colf, described himself in his application to be The onematchstick Bachelor.

Ian, The Bachelor and Telana

Ian is a hopeless romantic who enjoys fine dining and socialising. He knows lots of people, enjoys meeting new people, and when time permits has fun exploring new places as he travels.

Ian is known to write about his escapades and adventures, and the latest hot cocktail bars and restaurants around our country- and especially in Johannesburg - keeping his readers colourfully entertained. You can read more and see his latest tumble with a sand dune on his blog, entitled "recesses of a disturbed mind".

Ian's love for technology and people comes together in his prolific use of social media where he is known as 'samuraibunny' and professionally in his pursuit of a career that combines both financial and technological aspects to drive success in any business entity, where he is known as a hard working, analytical team player who's on top of his game, in work and play.

All in all, our Bachelor is a fun-loving guy that probably likes partying just a bit too much ;) Here's a video of him, where I ask Ian more questions so you can get to know him a bit.


If you would like to be a part of The onematchstick Bachelor, and get a chance to meet Ian in person and possibly win the final Date with him, then here's what you need to know:

How The Bachelor – onematchstick Edition is going to work:

  1. You need to sign up to meet The Bachelor, Ian, by buying online for yourself one of my Springleap T-shirts (with beers) (R183 plus R36 for delivery = R219) and sending in a photo and a sentence or two about yourself, (or for the more daring, a 30 to 45 second movie clip introducing yourself). (Note: you'll need the T-shirt for step 3). Entries close Friday 4 March 2011 - extended to Friday 11 March 2011.
  2. You can interact with Ian via his Facebook fanpage, and ask him questions to get to know him.
  3. Then you'll attend a cocktail party on 15 March 2011 at the fab FTV Cedar Square Johannesburg, (dress code is Springleap T-shirts), to meet Ian in person, and make your impression.
  4. At the cocktail party, Ian will be choosing 10 lucky entrants to go on dates with (and we might make a little movie clip about you).
  5. At this party you will also get to mingle with all the eligible guys who enter into The Bachelorette ;)
  6. If you're one of the lucky ten chosen by Ian, you will have to think up a date to take Ian out for - your choice: anything from a coffee, to a dinner or the theatre! Whatever you choose, to allow you and Ian to get to know each other some more.
  7. The ten dates will take place over the 2 weeks after the cocktail party.
  8. The ten finalists will then attend another cocktail party after all the dates, where Ian will then announce his choice, and invite the winning entrant for the Winning Date to be spoilt by him at his favourite restaurant. And there are other prizes to be won, including a necklace!
  9. And who knows, maybe you’ll make a new friend or find the love of your life! Anything is possible!

How to sign up:

Buy your Springleap T-shirt. Here's how:

  1. If you haven't registered yet on Springleap.com, now's the time to do so.
  2. When you are logged in, choose the T-shirt you want. You can choose ANY design. (If you cant find a T-shirt you like, then choose a Gift Voucher that you can use later when new designs become available).
  3. When you find the T-shirt you want, click on the size you want (there is a link which explains the sizing and the ladies T-shirts are a lady's cut). Once you click on the size, it gets added to your "shopping cart".
  4. When you've finished adding your T-shirt to your shopping cart, click on the shopping cart icon on the top right hand of the screen.
  5. Enter in your delivery details, and where it says "if you have a Springleap coupon, enter it here:" you enter the code, which is: onematchstick (all lower case, one word). This is a VERY IMPORTANT STEP! Please remember to add the code to track your purchase as a trade with me!
  6. Click the confirm and pay button.
  7. Check your details, and then you can choose to pay by EFT or by Credit Card.
  8. Just follow the prompts and you will have finished your order, and your T-shirt will be delivered in a few days.
  9. Email me your Springleap order number to onematchstick@gmail.com to finalised this part of your entry, and make sure your name is on the guest list for the cocktail party.

Something about yourself:

The minimum to enter is to atleast send in a sentence or two about yourself, and a photo. For those more daring, you can send in a video clip instead. Get a friend to help by holding your phone, or set up your camera to make a short, 30 to 45 second movie clip to introduce yourself to Ian, The Bachelor. It can be as simple as you want, or as creative as you can imagine. We're not looking for professionalism in the cinematography, but just a few words so that Ian can have a sense of who you are.

And yes, your few lines about yourself or your video will be made public on the internet! This is a reality–internet–project after all. ;) Pseudonyms allowed. So you might have to get out your comfort zone to take part- but it'll be well worth it!

The few lines or your video can be uploaded directly to The Bachelor's Fan page on Facebook, or to YouTube and the link can be added to the Fan page on Facebook or emailed to me to add.

If you have any questions, then get in touch!

So, what are you waiting for? Enter now to be part of The onematchstick Bachelor!

The fine print aka T & C's:
By entering you give onematchstick permission to blog about you, video you at the Bachelor related events, and have full usage rights of all the material.
And if something out of our control comes up, we reserve the right to change any of the dates or the process of this project.

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posted by Telana @ 11:36:00 PM, , links to this post


Stash or Stack the Castles?
21 January 2011

I have a whole lot of cases of Castle Lagers sitting in my cupboard. Yes, lots of beers. Which if you know me well, is rather unusual… or not?!

The left over Castle beers

And with those beers are all my lovely dresses that I haven't been able to wear this summer so far, because on the 27 August last year, I pledged to only wear Springleap T-shirts until I trade all 375 of them on with 375 people.

So I've worn T-shirts everywhere, from boardroom meetings to tango dancing, from client sessions to book launches, from rock climbing to networking events. Soon I'll even be wearing a T-shirt to a formal wedding (unless I finish trading all the T-shirts before next Saturday)!

Back to the beers though- You may recall my friend Charl offered to sponsor two beers with each T-shirt to help me trade on the T-shirts, which lead to the SWARM Party idea.

Well, as you can see I still have lots of Castles left over to go with the T-shirts I still have to trade. I have also set the self-imposed deadline of finishing trading all these T-shirts by the end of February 2011, and as it turns out, even the code to track my trades through Springleap expires on that date!

The count-down has begun, and I'll be counting down (rather than up!) the number of T-shirts left to go, to reach the total of 375.

Now that you know the admin and background details, and that your deadline to trade with me is the end of February 2011, you better keep in touch and take note. I've got a few exciting things coming up, including "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette" – onematchstick Editions (news of that later!).

I've also come up with a fun idea with the 2 beers per T-shirt and it's going to go like this:

If you trade with me for one of my T-shirts, you get two Castle Beers for free with each T-shirt (Thanks to Charl of SAB!). Now you can decide to either keep the beers, or to donate them on to the next T-shirt, thereby increasing the number of beers with the next T-shirt and making the incentive greater for the next trader. That next person can decided to either keep all the beers or some of the beers (i.e. to stash them), or donate them on (i.e. to stack them), and so it goes.

Since coming up with this idea, I had 161 T-shirts left to trade. Jonty traded with me for T-shirt 161, and he donated his 2 beers on. Dion traded with me for T-shirt 160, and decided to not keep the 4 beers, but donate them on too. So T-shirt 159 had 6 beers with it, and one of Adin's 3-way trade offers was taken up by Jelena resulting in Adin taking T-shirt 159. He decided to donate on this 6 beers as well.

We are now on T-shirt number 158 with 8 beers for free, and the next person who trades with me will have to decide if they want to stash all 8 beers (or just a few) or if they will stack on the beers to T-shirt 157.

So- who is going to be trading with me for T-shirt number 158 and get 8 Castle Lagers?

To make it more exciting, I will be allocating the beers as per who stashed or stacked them, to the relevant T-shirt number by using the consecutive Springleap order numbers. So you might think that you will be getting T-shirt 158 with me, but will only know if you are the next trader or if someone else beat you to it, by sending me your Springleap Order number, so I can work out who is next in line.

You know you want to!

Summary:
Who's it going to be? Who's going to be T-shirt Trader number 158 and get the allocated 8 beers that have been stacked onto that T-shirt? And what are you going to do with the beers: stash or stack them?

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posted by Telana @ 1:04:00 PM, , links to this post


If you don’t want one of my Springleap T-shirts…
17 January 2011

... and you do still want to be a part of one matchstick and support me….

then maybe you'd like one of these items or services instead:

These are items or services that fab people have offered me for which they are willing to be "paid' in Springleap T-shirts. All we need is you to put up the cash for the item or service, and then we have a 3-way Trade!

How Three Way Trades work:
  • An item or service is offered to me, for one or more of my T-shirts.
  • You then decide you want that item or service,
  • and then pay for the relevant number of T-shirts
  • which are sent to the person who offered the item or service.
  • The person then delivers the item or service to you.
    • Simple!

    All you need to do is CALL me on 083 730 2979 if you want one of the above items and then you will be helping me get to my offices, to help start up entrepreneurs.

    And there are beers involved too – but that's coming up in the next post.

    posted by Telana @ 9:59:00 PM, , links to this post


    Applications for the onematchstick Bachelor & Bachelorette
    14 January 2011

    Ok, so a while ago we came up with the fab idea of running "The Bachelor, onematchstick Edition" to help me trade my T-shirts. That Bachelor has since found romance over the holidays, before we got to get it all going.

    I've tweeked the idea a bit more and now I am looking for another Bachelor. And it seems there is interest in there also being a Bachelorette! So applications are now open to find the onematchstick Bachelor and Bachelorette.

    If you are a single guy or gal in Johannesburg looking for love, comfortable being talked about online and being in a youtube video or two, willing to buy one of my Springleap T-shirts if you are chosen (it'll cost you R219), and want to take part, apply asap. Applications close by midnight Tuesday next week (18 January 2011).

    The Bachelor & The Bachelorette- onematchstick Edition

    Once we have our Bachelor and Bachelorette, they will need to trade with me for one of my T-shirts, and then I'll be sharing information about them with the world. Then the guys that would like a date with the Bachelorette, and the girls who'd like a date with the Bachelor, need to get in touch with me and trade with me for one of my T-shirts, plus make a 30 second video of themselves, to get to meet the Bachelor or Bachelorette.

    We'll be throwing a cocktail party for some mingling to take place (dresscode will be Springleap T-shirts, of course), and then the Bachelor and Bachelorette will then choose who - out of all those who bought T-shirts to come meet them at the cocktail party - will then get to go on the date with them. It looks like I might even have the date with dinner, champagne and candle light sponsored at Joburgs best pizza spot- (tbc asap)!

    So: who wants to apply to be the onematchstick Bachelor? And which lucky girl will be the onematchstick Bachelorette? You never know, besides getting a new T-shirt, having some fun and making some new friends, you just might find love….

    To apply: tell me in 140 characters or less why you should be the onematchstick Bachelor or Bachelorette, and send your applications to onematchstick@gmail.com or tweet me at @telana or facebook me. Remember, applications close at midnight on Tuesday 18 January!

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    posted by Telana @ 3:00:00 PM, , links to this post


    Tuesday's art

    One of the Three-way trades that I have going on is some artwork from Tuesday. She offered me these prints when she attended the Cape Town Première of the movie about one matchstick.

    Bee, Telana, Tuesday and Jess

    "Tuesday Houston is a contemporary South African artist making a significant impact on the local art market."

    She's been arty since – well forever! She's even dabbled in welding metal into gorgeous jewellery and is very into fashion and stuff like that, especially fashion for kids.

    She's offered me TWO limited edition lino prints (about A4 in size) which are very popular, and unframed go for R900 in a Gallery.

    All she wants is two T-shirts in return for one of the prints, or three T-shirts for both prints, and we can even post the print to you if you are not in Jozi! What a sweet deal!

    'Dancing Girl' by Tuesday Houston 'Hula' by Tuesday Houston

    So if you want one or both of Tuesday's limited edition lino prints- CALL ME! 0837302979
    It'll cost you just R402 (the cost of 2 t-shirts) for one of the prints, or R585 (the cost of 3 T-shirts) for both of the prints.

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    posted by Telana @ 2:12:00 PM, , links to this post


    Social Media Consulting up for offer
    13 January 2011

    Did you know that Facebook is the most visited site in the world, overtaking google?

    Do you use it as effectively as you could? Or does it just frustrate you and you cant see what all the fuss is about? And what about that other one called twitter?

    Or do you know someone who would like to improve their social media knowledge, and you don't have the inclination or time to show them?

    Well… Adin van Ryneveld to the rescue!

    Adin and I at TRUTH Coffee in Cape Town

    Adin is the No Money Guy, and he has offered me an hours worth of top notch Social Media consulting in exchange for one of my Springleap T-shirts.

    He's living without money for 5 years by bartering, exchanging, gifting and with the help of sponsors- he's even giving his right arm to live without money! Se-ri-ous-ly! And his main means of doing all this is through social media.

    So here is a great chance to boost your own social media skills on the platforms of Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, with your own personal consultant, aka Adin, to guide you around and show you all the shortcuts and nifty applications that make it all easier. He’ll also share some tips on keeping your followers engaged and broadening your reach and influence on these social networks, for either your personal or business needs.

    So if you are keen, or know someone who would benefit from an hour to two or three of this consulting, then CALL ME! 0837302979. It'll cost you just R219 for one hour of expert advice! And if you want another hour, it'll just be another R219!

    So, contact me and become a whiz at Social Media, especially Facebook, the worlds most visited website!

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    posted by Telana @ 10:38:00 PM, , links to this post


    Matchstick Girl caught with her pants down ;)
    11 January 2011

    I was caught with my pants down, but still wearing my Springleap T-shirt!

    Ten years ago seven guys started, as a prank, what is now the No Pants! Subway Ride in New York. This year, the annual event took place on 9 January in 50 cities in 24 countries, with an amazing 3500 people taking part in New York alone! And it took place for the first time in Africa, right here in Johannesburg.

    The celebration of silliness requires that participants take off just their pants, and keep a poker face while they go about their normal routine on the train.

    Ben Pienaar heard about this craziness and decided that he'd get the event going here in South Africa too, and created the event on facebook.

    The transit flash mob drew my attention, drew over 100 other peoples attention, and drew the attention of the media (radio and newspaper) even before it took place. I'm a fan of flashmobs, having participated in a few already, and then organising Africa's first online flashmob. So naturally a no pants adventure got me to dig out my CK hotpants and pitch up at the Rhodesfield Gautrain Station at the designated time, along with some rockstar friends.

    We boarded the train, and as we headed towards the next station we got the signal and casually de-panted. We then carried on reading our books and chatting away. Security seemed to have doubled by the time we got to the Sandton station, but they just stood by and watched as we went up the escalators and back down to the platform to head back to Rhodesfield, making comments and appearing to be enjoying the silliness with us.

    Telana and Jack

    Once we were back at Rhodesfield, security cornered us and informed us that we were being arrested for "public indecency". Being an active participant myself, I can vouch that nothing other than a few laughs and smiles from fellow passengers occurred, and no one was indecent at any point.

    It actually was fantastic how calm, cooperative and cheerful we all were, considering we ended up being taken to the police station handcuffed to each other, in a 6-van-siren-and-flashing-lights-convoy. The charges were changed to "illegal gathering" and then dropped, and the only thing left that the humourless Security Officials could do was issue us with a fine (a big shout out to Neville from Minnie Attorneys for helping out!)


    Telana, Ben, Mystery Man, Neville and Peter

    Having done nothing illegal, there were no grounds to have detained us, and we got another ride back to the Rhodesfield Station, this time in a 3-van-siren-and-flashing-lights-convoy. (Yes- they needed 6 vans to take the 36 of us to the police station, but only 3 to take all 36 of us back in cramped style- go figure!)

    Similar events took place all over the world in cities including Zurich, Washington DC, Madrid, Chicago, London, New York, Amsterdam, Sydney, Milano and no arrests were made.


    Peter, Telana and Jack

    Africa's first No Pants event has made news all over: Rapport, The Times, MSN, Die Beeld, Sowetan, The Star, Jackaranda FM, Highveld Stero, 5FM, Talk Radio 702, ETV News, Eyewitness News, The Daily Maverick, and the web and overseas, Radio Taiwon International, . , Korea Herald. I wonder though if the event would have got as much exposure as being just another No Pants train ride among the many happening all over the globe, if we weren't arrested?

    I wonder if, without the handcuffs and jail time, if we, as a country, would have been able to take a step back and have a laugh, at the silliness of a few daring people who went pants-less for an hour…?

    Maybe we'll get to find out at next years event. :)

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    posted by Telana @ 12:16:00 AM, , links to this post