1.   A year ago, Patriots coach Pete Carroll was lamenting the difficulty his team faced because of the high expectations thrust upon it.

2.   In this space a couple of weeks ago a successful Kansas City restaurateur lamented the difficulty of finding employees who have a work ethic.

3.   Investors lamented the difficulty of reading the direction of the U.S. economy.

4.   Another lamented the difficulty in getting academics to contribute articles.

5.   On Monday, the United States urged Zairean President Mobutu Sese Seko and Kabila to hold talks in South Africa, lamenting the difficulty in arranging the meeting.