1.   And so it has gone for years, as we debate the merits of taking care of our respective domains.

2.   At a recent soiree, Liz Mansergh and Patricia Walsh sat across from each other, debating the merits of the settlement in Northern Ireland.

3.   As the North American Free Trade Agreement turns a year old this month, Americans are still debating its merits.

4.   At Columbia, the graduate students in an international affairs class discussed the events by debating the merits of military retaliation versus resorting to American and international courts.

5.   At a recent ethics conference at Harvard Medical School, professors from Harvard and MIT debated the merits of loosening restrictions on researchers versus tightening controls on their work.

6.   A middle-age couple hover near the fish counter, debating the merits of smoked white fish vs. salmon.

7.   A lot of otherwise productive time is being wasted debating the merits of each game.

8.   But even if the Republican-controlled House were to pass such legislation, the Senate would not be in a position to debate its merits.

9.   But in previous years, it provided unadulterated facts to Congress, which would then debate the merits.

10.   Debate the merits all you want, call it folly or loyalty, but at least accept it.