Iraqi Kurds, roughly estimated at five million, have stunningly rebuilt a dirt-poor and traumatised society from scratch since they gained their autonomy in 1991.

BBC: Iraq 10 years on: Good times in Kurdish Irbil

Justice Minister Mark Golding said the People's National Party, which won December 2011 general elections after four years in opposition, had to draw up the new legislation "from scratch" since taking power in January 2012.

NPR: New Bill Intended To Curb Jamaica Lottery Scams

Since making a mummy from scratch, Wade has been tinkering with other ways to preserve the body.

CNN: 'Death can tell us a lot about living,' mummy expert says

The railway has been rebuilt from scratch by volunteers since 1976 and during 2010 its re-laid Purbeck Line carried more than 210, 000 passengers - the second best performance in its history.

BBC: Dorset volunteer-run railway's poster campaign

Once the panel is reconstituted, its members will not be starting from scratch in drawing up a draft, since Egypt has had three previous constitutions and various political and civic society groups have drawn up models, Ashour said.

CNN: Row over Egypt's new constitution reflects wider tensions

These failures probably explain why Carlyle has focused since then on acquiring existing businesses, rather than starting new ones from scratch.

ECONOMIST: The Carlyle Group

It makes you scratch your head about the actual role of the public schools since there is so much spent on staff other than teachers relative to other nations.

FORBES: Schools Are Already Bloated, So Why Does Obama Want More Personnel?