For the LW, it seems that they're bored right out of their minds-start looking for another job-friends at work sometimes don't really stay friends after you've quit.

Start by going through "similar" job listings-anything to get out of the rut you're in-because someday, someone will question your being on the payroll for any reason. Then you'll get fired, and that's not fun, either. Corporations do tend to downsize periodically.

Just because the CEO can get a paycheck for not working does not mean you can do the same forever. They get wise to this kind of stuff, eventually. (God forbid they look on the Internet for unhappy employees posting letters to Salon advice columists!)

Does anyone remember the woman who was reported as missing, possibly kidnapped by thugs, only to be found later in another state, having concocted the "kidnapping" herself?

She was from Georgia, getting married in a small town to the "locally prominent" guy of the town. She was running away from the stress of the wedding. She got arrested and charged with making a false statement (among other things). I think she wanted out, too-but made the wrong choice to do so in the way she did it.

The LW should look at that and decide if she really wants to stay in the situation-or have to put up with it. I'd say get the hell out of town, cut your losses and do it. You're young only once. Life awaits! Go!

That Newt Gingrich is even talking about what "he" would do in a crisis like the past one is rather dumb.

It was Britain's crisis, not ours. For us to pass judgement on what "we" would do is presumptous, given the fact that we're in a "crisis" of our own.

The British may have been perceived as weak, but at least they resolved it without bloodshed.

Too bad we can't learn from this.