Knight Pierce Hirst asked:
Is+There+An+Upside+To+A+Down+Economy%3F%7C%3Cbr%2F%3E%3Cbr%2F%3EFor+those+confused+by+the+stock+market
%2C+there+are+simpler+indicators+of+an+improved+economy.+According+to+a+restaurant+advisory+consultant%2C+large+
+of+garbage+behind+restaurants+mean+people+are+eating+out+again.+According+to+a+chief+economist%2C+people+wear+
bright+colors+when+they%E2%80%99re+confident.+Because+men%E2%80%99s+ties+are+an+inexpensive+way+to+change+a+
wardrobe%2C+men+wear+pink+or+fuchsia+ties.+According+to+a+market+research+analyst%2C+because+jeans+are+relativel
y+inexpensive%2C+they%E2%80%99re+one+of+the+first+things+customers+buy.+Obviously%2C+men+in+restaurants+wearing
+pink+or+fuchsia+ties+with+jeans+would+indicate+a+strong+economy.%3Cbr%2F%3E%3Cbr%2F%3EEconomically+challenged+
U.S.+cities+are+using+parking+fines+to+help+balance+budgets.+New+York+City+made+approximately+%24600+million+in+
parking+ticket+revenue+in+2008+%E2%80%93+about+50%25+more+than+in+2002+%E2%80%93+requiring+the+hiring+of+
\200+new+citation+officers.+Atlanta+outsourced+its+parking+enforcement+to+a+private+company.+Instead+of+Atlanta%E2
%80%99s+usual+%242+million+in+fines%2C+the+company+promised+the+city+%245.5+million.+Washington%2C+D.C.+has+p
ut+cameras+on+street+sweepers+to+take+pictures+of+cars easter lamb parked+in+their+path%2C+hoping+to+earn+an+extra+%242+mil
\lion+annually.+It+seems+ticketing+has+become+a+%E2%80%9Cfine+art%E2%80%9D.%3Cbr%2F%3E%3Cbr%2F%3EBusiness+a
t+bordellos+in+Berlin+%E2%80%93+where+prostitution+is+legal+%E2%80%93+is+down+in+the+down+economy.+Locals+are
n%E2%80%99t+spending+as+much+and+fewer+potential+customers+are+coming+to+Berlin+on+business.+Nevertheless%2C+%E
2%80%9CMaison+d%E2%80%99Envie%E2%80%9D+%28House+of+Desire%29+has+found+a+way+to+improve+its+business.+Cust
omers+who+support+the+area%E2%80%99s+popular+green+movement+by+not+coming+to+the+bordello+by+car+get+a+5-euro+%28%247.50%29+discount.+To+qualify+for+the+discount%2C+customers+must+show+the+receptionist+a+bicycle+pad\
lock+key+or+proof+they%E2%80%99d+used+public+transportation.+Because+walking+can%E2%80%99t+be+proven%2C+there+
is+no+discount+for+walkers+%E2%80%93+but+this+hasn%E2%80%99t+caused+a+%E2%80%9Cwalkout%E2%80%9D.%3Cbr%2F%3
E%3Cbr%2F%3ESnails%2C+however%2C+seem+recession+proof+in+2009%E2%80%99s+economy.+In+Bulgaria%2C+the+European
+Union%E2%80%99s+poorest+country%2C+snail+farmers+can%E2%80%99t+keep+up+with+the+demand.+Although+France+and
+Italy+are+their+biggest+customers%2C+there+are+orders+from+Germany%2C+Austria+and+the+Netherlands.+Japan+wants+fat
tened+snails%3B+Dubai+wants+the+new%2C+orange%2C+carotene+snails%3B+and+orders+for+baby+snails+will+likely+reach+1+
billion.+About+900+tons+of+snails+and+snail+products+will+be+exported+in+2009+-+6+times+more+than+in+2008.+Presently+Bulgaria+has+50+snail+farms%2C+but+300+more+are+expected+to+open+in+2010
.+Meanwhile%2C+the+U.S.+economy+improves+at+a+snail%E2%80%99s+pace.%3Cbr%2F%3E%3Cbr%2F%3E
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