Now, more than ever, we all need Friends.

Hello,

Have we ever witnessed such a dramatic shift in the zeitgeist of America? Suddenly, austerity is hip; excess is way, way out. This summer we were pummeled by the $4 gallon. Then the financial sector’s spectacular meltdown. The easy credit spigot has closed with a resounding snap. And now consumers have curtailed their profligate spending, suddenly asking themselves, “Do I need that third television?”

Outside, everything still looks the same