Times are grim.
Most of the nation has escaped the vengeance of a slowdown that is not yet a recession, but go-go cities and regions that only yesterday stood at the center of the universe are discovering that yuppies, too, are subject to ruthless laws. Hard times for the stock-option set do not resemble hard times for factory workers losing their jobs because the plant shut down, either. The Washington Post recently reported the heartbreaking news that a Manhattan salesman specializing in deluxe breast implants reports a 50 percent drop in collagen sales. He's heading to India to find spiritual nourishment and to his lick his wounds. No one pretends the cases cited by The Post reflect the plight of solid citizens.