When the flow of debt from the market's giants dries up, it becomes harder to price bonds from the minnows, adding to their trouble in raising funds.

WSJ: European Banks��Large and Small��Rely on ECB

Brad Hintz, an analyst at Sanford Bernstein, calculates a potential hit of 28% to Bear Stearns' 2008 earnings per share if income from fixed-income trading falls 20%, financial sponsor merger and acquisition dries up and it sees a 35% reduction in below-investment grade loans.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Given that much of the same equipment and techniques can be used to make both syrups, and the fact that birch sap generally starts to flow just as maple sap dries up, "it does present a tantalizing possibility, " van den Berg said.

WSJ: Birch syrup explored as add-on to maple industry

Not only would China want to be sure it had other sources of supply if Iranian oil dries up.

ECONOMIST: Banyan

It pushes forward and gathers into small lakes at the base of the dunes but often quickly dries up.

CNN: Romancing the dune in Namibia