That's true, I do try to follow up every potential job, but even if I email them multiple times, I still never hear back. There's been a few jobs that I've rung up to ask if they have received my application, and I still never hear back.

The problem going through job sites (which I hate) is that you can never find the actual email address so it's kinda hard to follow up on potential jobs.

But I do see what you mean when it comes down to concepts. I still can't see myself using Java/C# however. I've never owned a Windows machine before and I'm interested in websites and web apps opposed to desktop apps, so I can most likely get away without using Java/C#.

Sure. But let's say you want to get in to enterprise development. Almost every large company out there has an IBM (Java) or Microsoft (C#) stack on their backend. And yes, I'm talking about for web apps.

Despite what HN would have you believe, most of the big guys aren't using Rails or Node.

Yea I get you, but honestly I have no desire to get into enterprise stuff and work for a large firm. I would much rather prefer working for a startup or a smaller more creative company.

I really just want to get some cash flowing in so I can invest them in my own ideas and hopefully one day start my own startup if the opportunity arises.

It's a lot easier to be picky once you have a degree and a few years of experience under your belt and some money saved up.