1.   The year began, as had become customary in recent years, with North Korean protests over the annual joint South Korean-United States Team Spirit military exercises.

2.   The University year begins in October.

3.   And as this year began, officials reaffirmed their interest in expansion.

4.   And judging by the show, all three have used their residency to experiment with forms and styles already well developed when the year began.

5.   And it is consumed with a vengeance during the eight-day Festival of Lights, which this year begins on Friday at sundown.

6.   As the Japanese year began today, expectations rose that Japanese investors will buy dollars to purchase overseas assets, such as U.S. Treasury bonds, traders said.

7.   As the year began, a number of analysts were predicting a comeback for small company shares.

8.   As the year began, Unimar Co. seemed something of a steady bet.

9.   As the year begins, the two dogs in his life are Stanley and Julius, exceptionally sweet-natured yellow Labrador retrievers.