The failure of the Gingrich revolution made many conservatives rethink their root-and-branch opposition to government, and the success of welfare reform has removed the most egregious example of government incompetence.

ECONOMIST: Lexington

But the link between economic deprivation and lack of success at education will take a long time to be removed, she says, with the need for cultural changes both within the education system and among those that it serves.

BBC: Plugging council estate into school

Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said as Every Child Counts had a proven track record of success and it was disappointing that its ring fenced funding has been removed.

BBC: Poorest pupils 'weaker at maths'

Crowdfunding and internet distribution methods like Steam and Xbox Live Arcade have similarly removed many of the barriers that either kept these games from commercial success or forced uncomfortable deals with large publishers in the past.

ENGADGET: PBS mini-documentary explores indie game creation, shows what they do that majors can't (video)

Two conservation success stories were recognized by the World Heritage Committee allowing for them to be removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger: Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore (Pakistan) and the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (Philippines).

UNESCO: EDUCATION

The agency has had limited success in getting successful prosecutions and hasn't charged any high-profile people since its top commissioner was removed from the body in 2007.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS