(AN) - As America reels in the wake of the collapse of several giant institutions, as business declines in many and varied sectors, reports are emerging that the number of entrepreneurs wishing to go public is on the rise.

Imagine for a moment that you're single and have recently met an attractive new woman, or man, as the case may be. You've taken them out for dinner. Perhaps she's ridden in your car. Maybe you've met his friends. And then you start wondering, who is this person really? What's their relationship track record like? How about their sexual history? What kind of risks am I taking? Are they financially secure?