1.   Even in recent years, racial issues have flared repeatedly.

2.   That issue has flared occasionally around Massachusetts congressmen such as Edward Markey and Barney Frank.

3.   The issue flared recently when Richard Smith, president of a Cambridge, Mass., software company, made a troubling, Big Brother discovery.

4.   But the issue flared anew when Arroyo recently said she would support similar exercises.

5.   The abortion issue has flared in recent days, as the GOP presidential field moves through the opening round of primaries and caucuses.

6.   The flag issue flared briefly during the presidential campaign, when Bush and McCain were competing for votes in the South Carolina Republican primary in February.

7.   The issue flared in Farmingville last September when two Mexican day laborers were badly beaten by men posing as contractors.

8.   But the issue flared in the news conference when Ottey was asked about her accusations.

9.   Sovereignty issues have also flared with South Korea over other islands in the Sea of Japan, known as Takeshima in Japanese and Tokdo in Korean.