21.   As is typical of many thorny ethical issues, media outlets can embrace higher standards while tolerating the loopholes that allow them to be circumvented.

22.   Asked about the thorny issue of extradition, the prime minister noted that the United States has not yet formally requested it.

23.   At Justice, Hubbell seemed to be less of a proconsul enforcing liberal political orthodoxy than a conciliator who proved adept at finding consensus on often thorny legal issues.

24.   Before the cable industry can tap this market, however, the companies must solve some thorny marketing issues.

25.   Bell Atlantic Corp. and AirTouch Communications are in closed-door meetings trying to resolve thorny issues surrounding their possible merger, sources close to the negotiations said yesterday.

26.   Blake and the girlfriends spend most of their time discussing the thorny issue of fidelity and wondering what meaning, if any, it has for them.

27.   Both say the decision to delay college was a thorny issue in the Grodd household.

28.   BlueSpace raises thorny issues, though.

29.   A bill aimed at reducing the number of children born with HIV, the AIDS virus, tackled the thorny issue of mandatory HIV testing in newborns.

30.   A thorny issue has been the implications of making a natural foods co-op the only option in town.