31.   Watching these struggling performers cross swords while the unsophisticated villagers cheer them on, one is immediately reminded of what a powerful and transporting thing live theater can be.

32.   Workers and bosses cross swords over who wanted which job classification.

33.   POLISHED politician and former governor Chris Patten must have enjoyed crossing swords with the outspoken and forthright Chim Pui-chung in the pre-handover legislature.

34.   He has also crossed swords with the U.N. staff union over alleged favoritism in personnel policies.

35.   Rep. Howard Coble, R-N.C., has crossed swords with Don Henley and upset other big-name musicians with a four-line amendment to copyright law.

36.   Senior White House officials know it would be suicide to cross swords with the first lady.

37.   Since then, hardline Peronists have crossed swords with Cavallo over an austerity program set in motion this year and a perceived lack of benefits for the unemployed.

38.   They later crossed swords, when Poncet defended high-profile figures like Bhutto and Borodin against charges of money laundering.

39.   Former East German spy-master Markus Wolf crossed swords with federal German prosecutors Tuesday, accusing them of bringing criminal charges against him for political reasons.

40.   Ireland and Spain cross swords later Sunday in Suwon, near Seoul, in their quest to join the footballing elite.