And animals still periodically blockade the track, leaving the driver little choice but to stop the train, get out and chase them off with a big stick.

BBC: East Africa��s best kept secret

Are you beating off the offers with a big stick?

CNN: Interview with Abhishek Bachchan

"I was taught that if somebody wants something of yours and will not negotiate reasonably, and brings a big stick with them, you don't roll over, " he said.

BBC: Man sells plots to thwart Manchester City expansion

High drug prices in America have become a big political stick with which the Democratic presidential candidate, John Kerry, is bashing Mr Bush.

ECONOMIST: Drug pricing

The lessons our short list of graduates is teaching us is clear: Unless you are a wild gambler, stick with the small companies riding the big trends.

FORBES: Health, wealth and technology

And they would, through education and maybe a little osmosis, learn that the best way to provide for their retirements would be to start early, begin with small contributions, and stick to a low-risk strategy that protects them against big losses.

FORBES: You're on Your Own

Soon after, McGregor kept out a stinging effort from Cacau and did brilliantly to stick out a leg and divert Pogrebniak's scuffed follow-up, with the big Russian striker allowed to carry on from a clearly offside position.

BBC: Rangers 0-2 Stuttgart

The big question now, of course, is whether the president will stick with his plan for a public option.

CNN: Borger: Obama's only choice is to speak out

Yet, to stick with the gardening metaphor, there are a lot less weeds growing in the gardens of the big emerging nations than there are in those of the center economies.

FORBES: "Third World" No More as Emerging Markets Upgraded, Developed Markets Downgraded