Southern Buddhist: Cosmic Mojo was ridiculing my career path, not recommending it. I opted to get into the "field of writing," rather than work on a novel. Since I first focused on the field of writing, with a B.A. in English and no practical experience, I have gotten jobs in that field. Here is how.

1. I started as a secretary in 1981.

2. I wrote for a publication - for free - for 1.5 years while I filed and answered phones so I could get a collection of bylines.

3. I sent the bylined pieces around and, after scores of rejections, was hired by a trade publisher into an entry level job.

4. Fast-forward many years: I became an executive at one of the largest newspapers in the U.S.

5. I now manage a large publishing venture, and I operate a website that focuses on my field of interest (an art that is unrelated to the type of journalism I do).

So Cosmic Mojo can laugh all he/she wants at someone who set their sites on "the field of writing." The operative phrase is "set my sights." My degree is not from a prestigious school; I come from a low-to-middle-income single-parent family; and I was painfully shy.

There is only one thing that separates me from the LW. I had no parents to support me, and I knew from childhood that I wanted to be a writer. I also knew I needed to earn a living, and so I figured, why not make a living by writing about something; anything.

I've had all the time in the world to write a novel, but it's not in my bones. I've focused my creative energies on another type of art, and it provides me with even more personal satisfaction than my writing.

I would encourage any young person who feels they have a special talent for writing to pursue the field of writing. Given that the web is our dominant mode of communication these days, there are literally thousands of jobs for people with a talent for writing.

I agree that there really aren't that many jobs, and anyone looking for a traditional "job" without experience isn't going to have much luck.

Why not approach employment as: "What can I do for someone else?" rather than - "There are no jobs for me." Sad as it is, the world doesn't care about you or me or whether we have a job. We become valuable when we contribute to something. The more entitled we feel (I have two ivy degrees and so *should* be able to find a hostess job), the less likely we'll be employed. Maybe it's related to Murphy's law or karma.

Do you have a talent for cooking? Why not make business cards for $5 (you can get these all over the web and choose your design) and a flyer that says you're a professional cook for busy, working families, and you'll drop off a home-cooked meal by 6:00 pm. If this family makes 200K, as many of them do with two working parents, they'd gladly pay you $50 or whatever you could charge to bring over their dinner three nights a week.

Do you like dogs and are you willing to learn about their behaviors? My dog walker charges $17 to take my doggie on a 20-minute walk. I have no idea how many clients she has, but she has gone from a one-woman-operation to a three-woman team. She's a musician in her other life. This is her primary income.

Do you know how to write a press release? Most artists and musicians have no idea how to promote themselves. I don't know what the going rate is, but I imagine you could charge at least $200 to write a press release for someone who's got an upcoming art show or an upcoming CD. Go approach artists/musicians you like, and ask if you could help them.

Focus on what other people need, not what you're entitled to, and you'll be working in no time.

That is funny. Yes, I used the wrong word. That just proves that the job called "copy editor," remains a valuable one.

I once read a survey that said the top three ways married couples met were:

1. Through friends, family, acquaintances

2. Through work

3. Through school

This is quite a common way to meet.

There would be fewer single people and more marriages if men weren't so afraid to chat up women at work. This politically correct world has driven singles to internet dating sites where the pickings are slim. Before computers, people just chatted with others at work; sometimes they went out with them; and sometimes you married them.

I mean, other than friends, work, and school - where does anyone meet?

I'm sorry for the loss of your nest egg.

There's a lesson about human nature and denial here - and the lesson seems to be that denial is a comfortable state for most of us.

There was mass denial from the clients to the SEC.

One LW said this:

"What really gets me is that not only did many financial people fall for this, but a large number of people knew it was impossible."

I don't think anyone "fell" for this. I think people knew something was amiss and denied it. If your memory was becoming slowly impaired, would you want to know if you had the gene for Alzheimer's disease? Probably not. Evolution must favor denial - in money and all matters.