Nancy Irwin was in her early 40s when she changed her career from stand-up comedy to psychotherapy. Having made such a dramatic turnaround, she thought to herself, "If I can do it, anybody can." So she collected dozens of examples of people who also made major life changes after 40, including many who switch careers. She documented their lives in the book "You-Turn: Changing Direction in Midlife." We caught up with Irwin to find out what she's learned about venturing down new paths.

Some models are more than just pretty faces: They're successful businesswomen, parlaying their time on the catwalk into careers that show off that other important asset — their wits. Heidi Klum, for example, is starting her fifth season as host and executive producer of "Project Runway." That's practically her spare time considering she has her own jewelry line with Mouawad, her own skin-care line called In An Instant and, even at age 35, one of the busiest models in the world.

The original iPhone used elegant software to cram a functional computer into a palm-sized package. The iPhone 3G, which goes on sale Friday, promises something more.

Flickr, a popular online photo-sharing site owned by Yahoo Inc., is teaming up with Getty Images to offer shutterbugs a chance to turn their hobby into a moneymaking endeavor. Under a partnership announced this week, Getty's editors will peruse Flickr to find pictures that may appeal to newspapers, magazines, book publishers, advertising agencies and other businesses.

Textless keyboards. Bottomless paper clip holders. Sticky notes blanketing the entire cubicle. Most who've worked in an office can say they've either terrorized their colleagues with office pranks or been the victim of at least one hoax. Now, all the Dwights in the corporate world can get their revenge. John Austin, a former toy designer, has written a manual of sorts for tricksters called "Cubicle Warfare" with instructions and illustrations for practical jokes.

Smashing someone else's lunch in the refrigerator to make way for your own. Draining the last of the coffee in the pot and not refilling it. Leaving your dishes in the sink.

Nothing beats chitchatting with colleagues around the watercooler. But as companies go national and global, and employees increasingly telecommute from home, the conversation hub may run the risk becoming extinct in some offices.

Sam Glenn followed some wise counsel when he found himself in a bad job situation — his mother told him, first, don't quit. And second, to have a frank chat with his boss at the small computer communications firm where he worked. Feeling trapped in an unhappy work environment is sending many people in search of solace and advice. With the economy sputtering and unemployment on the rise, these workers are trying to make the best of a bad situation rather than not have a job at all.

Four-day workweeks and no more cubicles — could this be the future of the workplace? Job placement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. recently released a list of workplace predictions that reflect the evolution of technology and rising cost of health care and energy.

Walking a dog on a beautiful day, playing with kittens – for money. Sound better than the job you have now?

At the beginning of a job, it's just a flat surface – bare, untouched, undeveloped. It's even clean, if you're lucky. But transforming an empty desk into a visual representation of an employee's personality and professional competence is not an easy task, say business etiquette experts and environmental psychologists. Every detail can provide an insight – or a distressing revelation – into work ethic and ambition.

Gina Thoma is taking a year off work to raise a family, but she's still playing the corporate game. As part of a new program at PricewaterhouseCoopers, the 42-year-old mother of three mingles at firm events, checks in with a career coach and attends seminars to keep her professional skills fresh.

Her stomach is knotted; her eager mind is racing with the possibilities of the day. She has all her supplies: fresh new crayons, bright yellow pencils, reams of virgin notebook paper, empty journals waiting to be filled.

We all know what it feels like to be stuck in a rut at work. The hours drag by, the challenges are few and thoughts turn to greener grass on the other side of the cubicle.

Believe you're among the top performers in your office? You're not alone.

At 92, Pete Perillo still has a workday routine. He says a prayer and then heads off in uniform to guard the city courthouse. "In the morning, I talk to St. Anthony and I come in," Perillo said. "I come in every day. ... These people, they keep me alive."

Wine Glacé is a dry mix that you blend with wine and ice to produce a frothy, frosty, pink beverage mingling sweetness and citrus tang.

A love of crafts and old things led Lisa Johnson to create home decor items from old wine barrels -- from candleholders to lazy susans and wine racks.

Stacey Barich changed her mind about having a tummy tuck when her mother contracted a serious infection after a hospital stay. That's when she knew she had to find another way to drop her weight. "I couldn't even do a sit-up when I got here, but this was a no-brainer for me," Barich said. The no-brainer was a 12-week weight-loss contest offered by her employer, Agora Inc., a newsletter publishing company based in Baltimore. The reward: A $1,000 prize for the top "losers" in male, female and team categories.

When the dog won't hunt, the bird won't spread its wings or the elephant won't get on the scale for a weigh-in, the Dallas Zoo calls Barbara Heidenreich.

A shade over 5 feet tall with short pixie red hair, Stephanie Hollowell appears a mere mortal to most people.

Elli Benchimol didn't mind being mistaken for the coat clerk or hostess while she worked at Rasika restaurant in Washington. But then she was scoffed at by two male diners when she asked if she could help them select a wine.