Now, deserved or not, this generation is being pegged, too--as one with shockingly high expectations for salary, job flexibility and duties but little willingness to take on grunt work or remain loyal to a company.

You can't blame us, though -- we went to high-school/college during the Clinton years. There was supposed to be a booming economy full of high-paying internet jobs waiting for us when we got out! Our expectations seemed reasonable at the time!

I meant Jesse's tri-state area. I have one Back East guy, whom I actually would've set up with any number of Somervillains or NYCistas if I'd had the chance, who tragically went and met The One last year. They met at an audition, she proposed to him with a spoon (some long story about a quaint country tradition of her ancestresses which I can't now recall), he responded with a mighty "SPOOOOOON!", and now he's off the market.

There is no tri-state area in California. We're so spread out that San Mateo-Contra Costa totally counts as a long-distance romance.

or remain loyal to a company

Well, when companies have a reputation of not remaining loyal to their employees....

I've seen this appellation in the microcosm of the legal market-- the response is always that firms are expecting MUCH higher hours (400-600 more billables) and making fewer partners. So loyalty is right out.

everyone I know is coupled up, as are most people they know!

Other than my roommates, pretty much everybody else I know is already coupled, too. Mostly, with at least one child already.

Most of my blind dates lately are friends-of-friends-of-friends. The most recent one, to take place, in fact, this evening, is a result of a conversation with a past-blind-date of mine with a friend of his. They were literally comparing names of girls they went out with, and when my past-blind-date's friend didn't recognize my name, he got my phone number.

amych! Belated congratulations on the marriage! Very happy for you and Mr amych.

JZ! More birthday wishes now that you're here to actually receive them!

They were literally comparing names of girls they went out with, and when my past-blind-date's friend didn't recognize my name, he got my phone number.

Nice. Go team networking!

Although, that reminds me of the people I thought I might set up, only to find out that they had met already, due to eating lunch at the same place. Whoops.

aww, thank you, Nilly! (and, once again, to all of you. I think I said it already, but the congrats just kept rolling in...)

I asked my best friend to set me up with any of his friends, and his choice was a standup that's not very good (absolutely no can do, since I have this comedy honesty thing) who closely resembles someone I dislike. His other suggestion was Dan Cortese, so he can't play anymore.

I have a really big conviction that all the men I might be interested in are taken, which makes any action on my part hesitant (of course there's a woman in his life somewhere -- she just hasn't come up in conversation yet)

I was just wondering how I'd go about dating if I suddenly found myself single

I'm wondering that m'self, and I've been single for 37 years now. I suppose the first 14 don't count.

Man, I wish my friends would set me up on blind dates.

I had a friend try to do this. I was utterly clueless and the guy was hung up on an ex, so it never worked out, but we did become friends. Then she fell head over heels for the guy herself. Then he became my (all too) platonic roommate and she became totally jealous. It was a whole soap opera, except with less sex. And no evil twins.

IoN, does anyone know when the Shrub's tv address will be tomorrow? I understand it'll be sometime in prime time, and I'm worried it'll pre-empt House.

The tv address should be about 30 seconds. All he can say is, "Freedom is on the march. Stay the course."