1.   At the Providence Journal Co., management was looking for a way to avoid the escalation of fixed costs, said John Bowers, vice president of human resources.

2.   At the United Nations, the Security Council is looking for a way to avoid a military confrontation.

3.   For many prospective draftees, the fear that they will end up in Chechnya is enough to make them look for ways to avoid the draft.

4.   Friday, friends of Kostin said the judge seemed to be looking for a way to avoid delivering a verdict.

5.   Hatch, in an interview, said he believes the only way to avoid constitutional challenges from the tobacco industry is to strike a deal with cigarette makers.

6.   He said he is working with members of Congress to find ways to avoid the sale.

7.   Japanese firms are having trouble finding ways to avoid foreign exchange losses arising from currency turmoil in Southeast Asia, the Nihon Keizai newspaper reported, without citing sources.

8.   Property owned this way does not avoid probate but passes to heirs as dictated by a will.

9.   Senators and representatives are always looking for ways to avoid casting votes that can be used against them in their next election.

10.   Sometimes, the planner has to be a strategist, dealing with estranged family members in whatever way will avoid offense.