Mr Bezos was in town to promote, among other things, one of those innovations which some thought might be a blind alley, the Kindle Fire.

BBC: Bezos and the future of books

Had the two arms of the study not been carried out in parallel, future researchers might have travelled up an expensive and time-consuming blind alley.

ECONOMIST: AIDS

But Whitmarsh, who admits McLaren "went down a technical blind alley" and "made a number of mistakes that cost us dearly", insists they are now back on track.

BBC: McLaren talk up Kers 'advantage'

But the technology turned out to be a blind alley.

ECONOMIST: Time and money | The

Sure, there's plenty that needs to change: Protectionism remains rife and the EU went down a blind alley with its social agenda, which piled new costs on business just when it needed greater flexibility.

WSJ: What Cameron Needs to Say on Europe

Unlike the wretched Estelle Morris, who resigned two months ago after admitting she wasn't up to the job, Charles Clarke, the new education secretary, is showing some reluctance to continue the charge up this particular blind alley.

ECONOMIST: Education