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.

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"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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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