When someone at the Forbes Video Network asked me if Heidi would film an online video for us, I had my doubts.

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"President Clinton contacted me and asked if I would be interested in being a candidate for the ambassador slot in Hanoi, the first one, " he says.

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Tele-retailing giant HSN asked if I would be interested in designing a line just for them and then appear on TV to sell it.

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The president of a Website company bet that if I asked summit participants what they used the Internet for, most would say nothing but E-mail.

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When I learned about the upcoming moon landing, I asked someone in a position of authority if it would be possible for me to order my own copy of The Times (which cost 10 cents) covering this piece of history and have the money debited from my candy account at the camp store.

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Instead of taking a traditional approach by simply trying to pay her more or increase her vacation time, I asked her if there was anything else she would be interested in doing for us.

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Nnamabia was staring at his yellow-orange rice as he spoke, and when he looked up his eyes were filled with tears, my worldly brother, and I felt a tenderness for him that I would not have been able to describe if I had been asked to.

NEWYORKER: Cell One

"When I applied for a job in Iowa in 2009 and they asked me if I had any affiliations to animal protection groups, I would have had to say yes, I wouldn't have gotten the job and I wouldn't have been able to expose the conditions that raised questions about the egg industry there, " he told BBC News.

BBC: US animal activist laws 'may impact globally'

"Not at this stage no, I'm retired, " the leg-spinner said when asked if he would be back for the 2007 World Cup.

BBC: SPORT | Cricket | Aussies 'should fear for McGrath'