Make sure your skills are up-to-date, and structure your resume in such a way as to not reveal how old you really are. For example, no dates on your education and/or military service, leave off early jobs, etc. You might want to dye your hair if you're gray, although I wouldn't go that far.

It's illegal to not hire you due to your age, but of course it's hard to win an age discrimination suit. So don't let it go there.

Other people have mentioned govt. contracting. Some contracting firms like to hire older techies because they fit in well with the aging population of government workers.

Why is this currently ranked -1? The poster is absolutely right. It costs big bucks to develop and maintain your own OS, so of course Android-based tablets are cheaper (yes, I know Kindle is not pure Android, but it's built on top of it). And Amazon is selling these things as loss leaders.

Love that dark chocolate. But I also have a sweet spot (bada-Bum!) for that nasty old candy corn.

M&M's, too.

And why is caramel apples an option on this list? Nobody gives out fruit any more, because parents just trash anything that isn't still in its store wrappers. Too many incidents of razor blades in apples and poisoned whatevers over the years.

Of course you can retrain. Buy some books and get to it. In the past few years I've learned several languages, tons of libraries, and many new concepts, all from reading and doing, no courses or formal training necessary. I can keep up with developers in their 20s and 30s. Frankly, I'm amazed that you're so negative about this at the still-wet-behind-the-ears age of 40.

Forty years ago I had been out of the Army for a year and was going to a community college while driving a school bus to pay the bills. Now I'm making decent change as a software developer, own a house, and am happily married. And I still have my health, my teeth, and some of my hair. So yeah, I'm a lot better off than I was 40 years ago.

I suspect it was well below minimum wage (although he did get free room and board and a top-notch physical fitness program).

And a lot more pleasant than even 10 minutes in a car (except when I'm dodging texters and homicidal maniacs).

You've been eaten by a gru

Where I live, jurors get $15 a day for expenses, which barely covers bus fare and lunch in the courthouse cafeteria. Minimum wage? In your dreams.

...it's in better shape than mine.

Real men don't need 200 horsepower to drag their sorry asses around.

I can see traffic just fine, and I've had as many close calls with inattentive drivers on my uprights as on my recumbents.

For a burst of speed I downshift and use my muscles, pressing back into the seat. I can beat many roadies in a drag race.

Maneuverability - I'll give you that one.

I'd rather hit something feet first than head first.

And I have a name for people who denigrate other people's choice of ride: intolerant snobs.

Ride what you like, like what you ride.

"maybe it's time we start listening to experts who have a proven record of success, rather than ideology that has only been 'proven' in the mind of elected politicians."

And this is exactly why NASA and other scientific endeavors will never get the funding they need.

Damn, I have mod points and I couldn't decide whether to mod this Funny or Flamebait. Guess I'll sit it out.

OK, I'm 62 and still going strong. I'm up to date on my skills and respected by my (much younger) colleagues.

But I have known people in their 40's with good backgrounds who couldn't find work in the field.