That is roughly what the Federal government would need to borrow between 2013 and 2022, if Congress and President Obama had agreed to keep tax rates and spending policies more or less the same as they were at the end of 2012, minus temporary stimulus measures such as President Obama's payroll tax cut, which have now been allowed to expire.

BBC: Cliffhanger: Still hanging

"The club's Championship status would be determined by the amount of points we collect come the end of the season, minus 10, " Ridsdale added.

BBC: Ridsdale faces an uncertain period of financial juggling

On the minus side English Nature, a quango with responsibility for the environment, has published evidence that they might end up creating a new class of weed.

ECONOMIST: Genetically modified crops