Welfare recipients train as computer programmers (1998)

The economics of programming projects can sometimes facilitate this. Just go in on the "C" level (CEO, CIO, CFO) and sell your thing. Make sure you're dressed in a suit and that you have enough credibility trappings to cloud the executive mind. Employ the services of a "Sales Guy" who can schmooze with the "C" level folks. Ply them with "steak and strippers." Convince them that it's freaking rocket science, and it's hard -- millions of dollars hard -- but you're just the sharp kind of geniuses to do it. If you do all that right, start a body-shop consulting operation to "customize" the app for your customers. Staff with bozos from the local community-college who only know how to implement doubly-linked lists in C. Charge hourly. At that point, it doesn't matter if all of the projects are failures. Walk away with your bonuses, pensions, and (already exploited) stock options.

Been there. Seen that! Just think of it as a Ponzi scheme that goes overboard on the laundering operation.

Strippers and Steaks:

http://www.zedshaw.com/essays/control_and_responsibility.htm...

I believe that's the sole reason why COBOL was invented in the first place: to teach non-engineers to program a computer (I think it targeted the Air Force initially..)