61.   This year began as the bleakest of many bleak years for an institution that was once called Big Labor.

62.   This year begins with the economy in recession but Wall Street is confident the end of the downturn is near and a strong recovery will follow.

63.   Too bad a new tax year has just begun.

64.   Treasury bonds went up and down in the year, but ended with prices a little lower, and yields a little higher, than when the year began.

65.   When the year began, Stolle knew he wanted to be a part of the Davis Cup.

66.   Year three has begun with the same halting process of plugging perky kids into holes vacated by low-energy veterans.

67.   Only in recent years have birthdays begun to equal the importance of name days.

68.   A Buddhist sage defined the problem as the year began.

69.   Accidents involving their use surge every year in China ahead of the Lunar New Year, which this year begins Tuesday.

70.   As the year began, it appeared President Jacques Chirac and Prime Minister Lionel Jospin would renew the battle they fought seven years ago.