In the last year of Jimmy Carter's presidency, the United States government issued a report called Global 2000, which aimed at predicting conditions in the year 2000.

Food prices must double to meet demand. (The price of almost every food item has fallen in inflation adjusted terms.)

All reserves of fluorine, silver, zinc and sulphur will have been totally exhausted. (Thousands of tons of these items are now in reserve with no shortage in sight.)

Energy prices will rise by 150 percent. (In real terms oil prices have dropped by one third.)

Centrally planned economies will have greater increases in grain and food than market based economies. (The Soviet Union collapsed, almost a quarter million people starved in North Korea, and Europe abandoned collectivism.)

These items were reported by Stephen Moore and Michael New of the Cato Institute.

Maybe our government doesn't know what is best for us.

Dutch bargain: A bargain so one sided as to be no bargain at all.

Dutch concert: The noise and confusion of a party of drinking Dutchmen.

Dutch courage: Courage engendered by booze.

Dutch reckoning: A disputed bill which grows larger.

The Dutch act: Suicide

Dutch treat: You pay for your own.

Beat the Dutch: Tell a completely incredible story.

Dutch wife: A bolster, based on the idea that a Dutch wife couldn't warm a bed.

In Dutch: In disgrace.

Dutch auction: Opens with a high bid and works down.

Jordan Almond lists these in Dictionary of Word Origins (paraphrased).

It was a pleasure to read Ted Theodorsen's extensive and detailed thoughts on the possibility of a new library immediately to the west of and contiguous to the Mary Jane Davies Park and with self-contained parking.

Ted also commented on various other local matters. He made a very negative comment on additional tiered or other parking in the vicinity of our train station. The thought was that the added parking would only bring more traffic to downtown Manhasset. And do we ever have enough traffic now! More extensive policing of parked cars to punish those who don't live in our immediate area is the only feasible counter to Ted's appropriate comment (and that might not work).

Ted has written columns for various local publications and I, for one, have always enjoyed them.

The volunteer fire department of Manhasset exhibited a charming custom again this year.

A big fire truck roamed over neighborhoods just before Christmas. Lights flashed and sirens sounded in a fashion to draw attention from every household on its route.

Santa Claus waived cheerfully from atop the truck, illuminated with floodlights.

This is a bit of genial hometown sentiment which is most welcome to most of us.