This reflects not just a shift in American attention towards other parts of the region, and American ire at Egypt's ugly human-rights record, but also Egyptian annoyance over policies such as the invasion of Iraq and the Bush administration's uncritical embrace of Israel.

ECONOMIST: Egypt

But without the dogged work of a veritable army of planners and engineers, annoyance would have spilled over into catastrophe.

FORBES: American Pyramids

There are, of course, the more mundane threats, like 20-hour work days and the annoyance of friends who gush over how exciting it must have been to work with Brad Pitt after you ve staggered home bruised and filthy at 7 A.M.

FORBES: Hollywood Hard Hats

Diouf's second yellow card came after full-time as he allowed his annoyance with the officials to boil over.

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In part it reflected the accumulated personal annoyance of Arab leaders with Colonel Qaddafi over such misdemeanours as his reported dispatch, in 2004, of a hit squad to assassinate then Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.

ECONOMIST: The Arab world's reaction

Over the years my taxes have become more complex, and my annoyance with the complexity and ambiguity makes it harder for me to focus on taxes as part of my role and duty as a citizen of this amazing country.

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Smith's annoyance was not diminished by Rangers regaining their 11-point lead with a 2-0 win over Hearts on Sunday and being on the brink of winning the title away to Hibernian next weekend.

BBC: Rangers manager Walter Smith bemoans fixture imbalance