There I've said it. i feel much better now 

Men grow cold as girls grow old
And we all lose our charms in the end
But square-cut or pear-shaped
Those rocks dont lose their shape
Diamonds are a girl's best friend

 

Not in this economy Batman.
One of my models and a very dear friend was in the wholesale flower business but she was laid off a month ago.

As for the gems... well here is a recent news clipping concerning one of the oldest publications in the jewelry industry:

"New York--Industry trade publication Jewelers' Circular Keystone (JCK) laid off five staff members on Wednesday, including its editor in chief and two senior editors, JCK Publisher Mark Smelzer confirmed to National Jeweler.

In a round of layoffs brought on by the economic crisis, JCK let go Editor-in-Chief Hedda Schupak, who has been covering the jewelry industry for 23 years, senior editors Carrie Soucy, Bill Shuster and Anthony DeMarco, and Mitch Horowitz, who worked as an advertising director for the magazine, Smelzer said."

I happen to be good friends with someone who was a main editor at that publication and he was laid off this last January.

Those of us that still have full time jobs and/or can make a living from shooting stock; micro or otherwise should count ourselves as lucky!