Most closely contested cases have been over relatively narrow differences of opinion about how to apply earlier court precedents to new situations.

ECONOMIST: The Supreme Court

And at a time when the economy is still coming out of an extraordinarily deep recession, it would be inexcusable, given the relatively narrow differences when it comes to numbers between the two parties, that we can't get this done.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama's Statement on Budget Negotiations

Are they going to work to narrow those differences ahead of the next G8 or G20?

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

Even if America and Europe do narrow their differences, internet firms will still have to grapple with other data watchdogs.

ECONOMIST: Legal confusion on internet privacy

The nations gathered in Kyoto are split into several factions, each pushing a different plan to deal with impending climate change, and each -- despite a spate of preconference workshops held during the past few months in an effort to narrow the differences -- sticking to its guns.

CNN: Hot Air In Kyoto

Narrow though the differences seem, the constitution is only part of a broader political battle between two Bolivias: the poorer, mainly Indian western highlands still revere Mr Morales, while the opposition is led by the regional prefects of the more prosperous eastern departments.

ECONOMIST: Too much confronting and voting, too little governing

In sum, the small numbers in this study combined with the kind of data collected (limited baseline data, no details of drink ingredient differences) and the narrow demographics do not support the contention that drinking diet soft drinks is going to put you at a risk for a heart attack.

FORBES: Will Drinking Diet Soda Increase Your Risk For A Heart Attack?

The small differences in price in this narrow range are far more profound than bigger jumps higher up the cost spectrum.

FORBES: The Year In Wine: Best Values Of 2012

Over time the differences in fertility between rich and poor should narrow as everyone has fewer anklebiters.

ECONOMIST: Free exchange