In the second quarter of 2011, three out of ten small business owners reported that credit was difficult to get over the previous 12 months and 36 percent reported that borrowing would be tough to access over the coming year.

FORBES: Small Business Credit: Still Hard to Get

"Those are the difficult moments every photographer has to get over and get away with it and not be discouraged, " he says.

NPR: 'Americans': The Book That Changed Photography

It was a little difficult for me to get all weepy over the homilies about families and freedom, however, when Gibson's answer to any problem he confronts is to either shoot it or smash it.

CNN: 'Lethal Weapon 4': Saying nothing, but loudly

The pending expiration of a federal tax credit at the end of 2013 and the uncertainty over whether it will get renewed also are making it difficult for geothermal developers to win contracts with utilities.

FORBES: Geothermal Energy's Trouble Competing With Solar

Mr Rooney said the aim was to get a firm commitment over the supermarket and use that to kickstart the rest of the plans, although he recognised the difficult economic circumstances.

BBC: ?120m Middlesbrough Western Gateway 'may be modified'

But it is difficult to see how substantive talks can even get started, given the differences between the two sides over what must be done, or not be done, as a prerequisite for serious negotiation.

ECONOMIST: A Middle Eastern time-out?