The Pains of Being Pure at Heart may be brief Berman recalls a few tracks getting accidentally erased during the recording process in his friend's basement but at just 34 minutes, it begs to be put on repeat.

NPR: The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart: 'Contender'

Yet, encouragingly, donor governments have so far been at pains to promise that tsunami-related aid will not be at the expense of existing aid budgets.

ECONOMIST: Asia's tsunami

Since then, Mr Rubinstein has been at pains to be seen to be tough, aware that any perceived soft-pedalling of politicians' peccadillos will instantly be challenged in the High Court.

ECONOMIST: Israel