Second, the administration shifted the date for some corporate income-tax payments from September 15th to October 1st, the first day of the 2002 fiscal year, in order to lessen the impact of next year's cut.

ECONOMIST: George Bush's excuses only half wash

The government is also due to begin a public consultation before the end of the year on whether to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes in order to lessen their marketing appeal to young people, help make health warnings more effective and help reduce the number of smokers.

BBC: Cigarette vending machines banned in England

One other quick point: you may want to start with an out of the money call butterfly or put butterfly in order to lessen the probability of another party exercising an option you sell, as it is detrimental for them to do so while the option is out of the money.

FORBES: Still Flying Into Housing Stocks? Consider This Options Strategy

We should be willing to challenge old assumptions in order to lessen the prospects of such violence in the future. (Applause.) But what we cannot do is use this tragedy as one more occasion to turn on each other. (Applause.) That we cannot do. (Applause.) That we cannot do.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama: Memorial in Arizona

To lessen the temptation for teams to lose games in order to secure the top draft pick, the NBA in 1985 instituted a "lottery" system.

WSJ: NBA Draft: Does the NBA Really Need It?