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

But if you take the price of cattle with your expenses, the high price of fuel, taxes - if you take your calf check at the end of the year that you sell minus your expenses, that calf price does look high but those expenses are outrageous right now, especially like the price of fuel over the summer.

NPR: Economic Check-Up in Broken Bow

At the important market low in early March of last year, which marked the end of the 2002-2007 bear market, the spread was minus 51%, with 70% bears and only19% bulls.

FORBES: Finally A Season And Reasons To Be Jolly

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