1.   As Ma ends this string of benefit concerts, Horner is leaving the board of Young Audiences.

2.   But even so, the vote Thursday was good news for President Bush and his team, which ended a string of defeats in congressional votes on environmental issues.

3.   But Kelly Stinnett ended that string with an infield single with one out in the eighth inning.

4.   But she indicated that Royal Caribbean wants to end the string of embarrassing cases.

5.   However, the Dodgers did end a string of ineptitude in the loss.

6.   It ended a string of consecutive shutout periods against San Jose by goaltender Felix Potvin at nine.

7.   Still hard to believe the victory ended a string of four consecutive Johnson starts where the Diamondbacks were shut out.

8.   That ended a string of defeats that threatened to undermine its traditional role as powerbroker in Bonn and possibly trigger an early general election.

9.   That ended a string of defeats that threatened to destroy its traditional role as powerbroker in Bonn, destabilizing the coalition or prompting elections.

10.   That would end a string of seven rate increases the Fed imposed since early last year to curb inflation.