Some 50 Vefa depositors recently went on hunger strike at the fund's offices after its charismatic founder, Vehbi Alimucaj, told them Deloitte was to blame for not releasing their money.

ECONOMIST: Dismantle with care | The

The fund has one strike against it--a steep expense ratio (1.6% a year)--but I couldn't find a cheap alternative from Vanguard.

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Perhaps as important, the Internet is a fund-raising tool that allows candidates to quickly scoop up large amounts of money, if they strike a spark with voters, without having to rely as much on the traditional, time-consuming slog through fund-raising events night after night.

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And the knowledge that their money was steadily being drained from the escrow fund, in addition to the lack of income that is normal in a strike. would pressure both sides to speed up the eventual settlement.

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"It might strike people as a lot of money really early, " says Corsell of GridPoint's fund-raising success, but he adds that the business of investing in the electric grid is highly capital intensive.

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Pre-publication leaks tried to cast Mr Brown as the champion of defence: he would fund fully two new aircraft carriers, as well as the Typhoon fighter and the Joint Strike Fighter, all the while maintaining the army at about 100, 000 men and remaining committed to the war in Afghanistan.

ECONOMIST: Future defence policy