Even a decade ago, they were sometimes caricatured as a protest party of bearded sandal-wearing alfalfa-eaters.

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Mr. Mason always cut an unlikely figure as a CEO, even among the hoodie-and-sandal-loving culture of Internet startups.

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They said (and I paraphrase here) that returning the Rock to its building society roots was a lovely idea for sandal-wearing, vegan, financial hippies.

BBC: Will Northern Rock be re-mutualised?

We chose to take a conservative view, using the most recent reported institutional transaction as the basis for valuing the company and its sandal-sporting, hoodie-clad chief.

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That's not what the Treasury is saying now - probably because ministers have discovered that those sandal-wearing, vegan, financial hippies throng the backbenches of their parties (even the Tory party) and seem to be bossing around even the influential Treasury Select Committee.

BBC: Will Northern Rock be re-mutualised?

Ever fantasised about starring in your own sword-and-sandal epic?

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The water-sandal order never gets booked.

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He's too busy thinking about his next product, due out in 2004--a water sandal.

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While the silhouette of a stiletto looks infinitely more stylish and commanding than a running shoe or thong sandal, professional women making their way into office-buildings in cities and suburbs across the country in comfortable shoes have the right idea.

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