Mechem, while taking pains to avoid casting even indirect aspersions on his predecessor, has made it clear by his actions that his style will be substantially different.

Hulke avoids casting either side as heroes or monsters.

So White House officials take pains to avoid casting their reluctance to approve General Noriega's candidate for administrator now as a breach of the treaty arrangements.

He used stock characters, and the roles were filled with untrained people from the appropriate classes; he avoided casting stars.

Cameron still agreed to meet with Schwarzenegger about the film and devised a plan to avoid casting him.

Mr. Ferrer himself avoided casting Mr. Bloomberg's withdrawal in racial terms.

As for the commission, it remained packed with expirees who would gladly disintegrate, if necessary, to avoid casting so much as a shadow on any of the mayor's plans.

And he avoided casting the most expensive Hollywood superstars.

The title gave him a sudden start, too; and he could not avoid casting a wistful glance round the room.

"I don't see how anyone can make any money doing this," he said, declining to identify the post-production house or the show to avoid casting either in a bargain-basement light.