For practical advice on how to prepare for a programming career, check out to Eugene Eric Kim's article, "Making Your Move: Programming as a Career" in the Fall 1997 issue of Dr. Dobb's Journal (www.ddj.com/articles/1997/9719/9719toc.htm). The same issue includes the article "Programming in the Real World" by Allen Holub (www.ddj.com/articles/1997/9719/9719n/9719n.htm). The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides a detailed description of programmers' working conditions, employment outlook, salaries, and educational requirements at stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos110.htm. You can find up-to-date job listings for programmers at career Web sites, such as The Monster Board (www.monster.com), the Kaplan Career Services site (www.kaplancareers.com, now BrassRing), or the Job Hunter link at the San Jose Mercury News (www.mercurycenter.com, now a part of BayArea.com). What does Bill Gates think is the key to becoming a successful programmer? You can find out in Susan Lammers' book, Programmers at Work (Microsoft Press, 1986), featuring Bill Gates and a cast of other luminaries from the early days of microcomputers. For a humorous look at programmers, read Ed Post's essay, "Real Programmers Don't Use Pascal," at www.uio.no/~olews/real.men.html.