As soon as his lunch was ready, he ate hungrily but without paying attention to what he was eating, listening to the radio, which was now broadcasting light music punctuated by endless advertisements.

NEWYORKER: Waiting

Indeed, Michael Woodford, an economist at Columbia University, argues that inflation can to all intents and purposes be modelled and controlled without paying any attention at all to money.

ECONOMIST: Economics focus

"We've improved a lot recently and we have to go out looking for victory, without fear and without paying too much attention to the opposition, " said the left back.

BBC: Fergie ready for Real tactics