1.   During the course of the evening, while Loretta cooked couscous for her friend, they had somehow avoided any reference to what was to happen later.

2.   But they conspicuously avoided any reference to Montesinos, who had a hand in the selection of most of the members of the military high command.

3.   But with one exception, an annual encyclopedia update, the books conspicuously avoid reference to the major leaguers that left fans without a World Series last fall.

4.   Clinton discreetly avoided any reference to China, whose military exercises in the Taiwan Strait recently sent tremors through Asia.

5.   Federal Reserve officials usually speak cryptically and avoid references to unemployment at public events.

6.   Krawczyk avoided any reference to the controversy in a speech on Tuesday that focused on reconciliation.

7.   Or speaking with Bill Clinton but politely avoiding any references to a certain beret-wearing brunette.

8.   Sharp, by contrast, avoided partisan references and never even hinted at the name of the gubernatorial nominee at the top of the Democratic slate.

9.   Some have responded by simply avoiding references to terrorism and patriotic fervor.

10.   The Jets carefully avoided any reference to Manning in public, or even in off-the-record conversations with members of the news media.