31.   The situation was bad enough to prompt Salt Lake City mayor Rocky Anderson to make a public plea this week asking people to patronize downtown businesses.

32.   Thursday in Nicaragua, a local Catholic bishop, the Rev. Bosco Vivas Robelo, made a public plea for information about communities where aid has not yet arrived.

33.   Players such as Charles Barkley made public pleas to settle the dispute, risking fines the NBA imposed for criticism of calls.