1.   Making matters worse are the close ties many bankers and businessmen have with the government, which helps them successfully to keep their banks open.

2.   Making matters worse, a crucial executive working on the card had recently been dismissed by Kahn.

3.   Making matters worse, many kids have trouble readjusting their natural sleep rhythm.

4.   Making matters worse are signs of a faltering economy in Japan.

5.   Making matters worse are modern types of food production.

6.   Making matters worse, the teams have a tight schedule and sometimes have to play two or more matches within a few days, leaving little time for recovery.

7.   Making matters worse, they say, are the Muslims moving in from neighboring Bangladesh in search of richer farmland along the Brahmaputra River.

8.   Making matters worse were earlier reports by the New York governor that dozens of bodies had been located.