"A needle that goes through the skin needs to be as sharp as possible because that's going to be associated with the easiest access, the more slick closure, and the less pain when somebody has, say their blood drawn or their skin closed."

VOA: special.2010.02.10

Outside the court,McKinnon's mother, Janis Sharp, called the ruling a disgrace and made a plea to U.S.President Barack Obama for leniency.

VOA: standard.2009.07.31

But he said China's sharp increases in military spending in recent years are defensive in nature, and still leave its spending and military capability far behind the United States.

VOA: standard.2009.10.27

From under the plane's right wing, the black sharp-nosed X-15 drops free.

VOA: special.2010.07.07

Sharp dry branches scratched at her like cat's claws.

VOA: special.2010.04.03

A senior State department official who spoke to reporters Monday said the sharp tone of the Iranian leader's comments was not a surprise.

VOA: standard.2009.03.23

The attempted bombing by a Nigerian of a U.S.-bound flight has provoked sharp reactions in image-conscious Nigeria.

VOA: standard.2009.12.28

Analysts blame the sharp increase on the turbulent national elections and a re-emerging Taliban facing a surge of U.S.troops, determined to take the provinces.

VOA: standard.2010.05.26

The result has been some progress on the ground, but also a sharp increase in U.S.casualties, with more than in just the last three months.

VOA: standard.2009.09.22

President Obama has already increased the U.S.troop presence by more than 21,000 to about 68,000, and authorized more aggressive operations against the Taliban, which have resulted in a sharp increase in U.S.casualties.

VOA: standard.2009.09.23

A senior official here said the administration had anticipated a sharp response by Pyongyang to Monday's Security Council statement and that the United States did not intend to "get bogged down" by responding to every statement carried by the official North Korean media.

VOA: standard.2009.04.14