It would make a nice present for a friend in a distant country who knows little about Hong Kong and whose regular reading includes society magazines.

CNN: The Never-Ending Story

But contrary to his previous film where the Holocaust played a leading role, in "The Tiger and the Snow, " the war in Iraq seems little more than a distant backdrop.

NPR: Iraq War Is Backdrop for Latest Benigni Film

There are distant little ducks, and the rear end of a stag.

NEWYORKER: Venetian Brass

Mr. Issa lives with distant, better-off relatives, does occasional electronics-repair work and gets a little money from an older brother, who after a 12-year job hunt, finally found work as an electrical engineer earlier this year.

WSJ: Arab World Built Colleges, but Not Jobs

And, oh yeah, then wait a little more -- just until you get to the point where the by-then-dated phone is a distant memory in your mind and you couldn't possibly care less about its release (much to Palm's chagrin, undoubtedly).

ENGADGET: Palm delays US Treo 750 into oblivion Mobile