Bill, I couldn't have said what you said any better. You write well.

Thank you for your words,

Cecil

>I would teach C Sharp to other unemployed people -- either as a substitute teacher or as a free community service. Like you, I don't know enough to call myself a C Sharp expert or to use that as my main skill to get a job. But I know a lot more that a lot of people who would be interested in a free class. I find that you can learn more by teaching than your students can learn from you. Look at the compensation as subsidy for a public service that is very much in your own interest.

>Fortunately I'm not on the outside lookin in. I sympathize with your problem. I know we are an endangered species. I was unemployed for 6 weeks about a year ago. By the way I was born in 1947. I took a position at a company that has lots of legacy VFP code that they want to retire. I'm programming 80% in VFP and 20% in C Sharp. I gave a "C Sharp Beginner to Beginners" presentation at our user group.

>I take a combatative approach to my career. Look for every opportunity. Come early and stay late. Apply your skills to real problems -- write real programs for real people. We learned each new plateau of FoxPro by doing it organically with our work and contract assignments. We may be a small bit slower with mental acuity, but the experience with users needs, business practices, computer algorithms, knowing how to learn, and knowning how to work with people -- all of these things trumps any competition ten fold. Fear, doubt, and conservatism are to be avoided.