1.   Ask executives in almost any Manila boardroom, and business prospects remain bright.

2.   At the trial, Northwest will be allowed to ask Continental executives leading questions, a right usually reserved for cross examination of witnesses from the opposing side.

3.   But it has been able to ask executives of the holding company questions from time to time.

4.   But White House officials have asked business executives to hold off for now, even while seeking their help to build public support for the tax plan.

5.   Giambi asked Yankee executives.

6.   Gingrich asked executives at Gannett News Service this week.

7.   In the aftermath of the agreement, Lucchino called others involved in the negotiations and asked rival executives about the offers they had made to the pitcher.

8.   Just ask executives at Sega of America Inc.

9.   Just ask executives at Peritus Software Inc., a Billerica, Mass. software company hit with shareholder suits this month after reporting disappointing results.

10.   Just ask executives from Boeing Co.