January 22, 1991

Three weeks past Connecticut's self-imposed deadline for its communities to begin mandatory recycling, most are still scrambling to start their programs. In Stamford, for example, full-scale recycling will not start until March 1. In New Haven, only 60 percent of the homes are recycling. In Hartford, with about 133,000 residents, only 18,000 households are recycling, a recent survey found.

IT is just the potion for a bellicose world. In some cases, it works as an aphrodisiac, inspiring males to seek females more ardently and females to invite their overtures more passionately. The hormone, which is present in humans and other mammals, helps stimulate the sensations of sexual arousal and climax. And after copulation, it acts as the proverbial cigarette, fostering a feeling of relaxed satisfaction.

Environmental groups and several elected officials say recent actions of the Dinkins administration strongly suggest that the Mayor is moving toward greater use of garbage incinerators, despite his 1989 campaign promise to delay a decision until 1993. The promise to put new incinerators on hold -- though not to rule out their eventual construction -- had won David N. Dinkins wide support among voters in Brooklyn.

It is a political axiom in the state Capitol, as in most seats of government, that it is unwise to oppose any plan aimed at putting police on the streets. But for the four months since Mayor David N. Dinkins unveiled a plan to hire 3,500 New York City police officers, that truism has languished in a bog of political miscalculation, mistrust and misfortune.

"O.K.," said Nate, peering down his horn-rimmed bifocals, "you're a man. Do you just love to shop around for clothes? Of course not! Men aren't missionaries always seeking new places. Men want a good store. Good value. Good treatment. Good talk -- sports, politics, maybe markets. And then outta there. Am I right? So, that's me, Nate Friedman, clothing therapist." Or, rather, that was Nate Friedman, clothier to many males in New Jersey. Also New York and New Hampshire and one over in Sweden. Nate has the addresses in his file, a tall stack of cards in a rubber band from the 60's.