1.  Any point we can pick up from now to the end is important.

2.  Any politically unpopular cut in the Livret A rate now would probably have to be followed by an increase some time next year.

3.  Any predictions about the 2000 presidential race made now, more than three years before the vote, inevitably will be risky, stupid and wrong.

4.  Defensive lineman Jeremy Staat, now with the Steelers, was a backup.

5.  Defensive tackle Russell Maryland, who sprained his right knee against the Eagles, said a potential playoff matchup with the 49ers can wait for now.

6.  Defensively, there might be some decline, because last year's defensive coordinator Vince Tobin is now the Arizona coach.

7.  Deputy Inspector Peter J. Buccino, the 30th Precinct commander in 1991, now heads the 19th Precinct on the Upper East Side.

8.  Denise DeBartolo York is now sole owner of the 49ers, crown jewel of the billion-dollar Edward J. DeBartolo Corp. of Youngstown, Ohio.

9.  Denmark, Norway and Sweden now allow homosexual partners to register with the state and to claim many (though not all) of the prerogatives of marriage.

10.  Dennis is the hottest thing to hit Chicago since Al Capone, and he now stops traffic all over the country.