JS> Thanks, but not knowing much yet about programming, I think I need to
 JS> ask a few more questions, if you don't mind. For a beginning
 JS> programmer,  is C++ the recommended starting place? I know that there
 JS> are a  multitude of languages,ect. , will C++ be compatible(is this a
 JS> silly  question?) with my packard smell(oops bell..heheh).Is C++ what
 JS> most  on-line games, and education programs are written in? That is
 JS> what I am  most interested in learning to program for, I tutor adults
 JS> who are  attempting to get their GED's, and most education programs
 JS> that would be  most useful to the adults, I am finding are geared to
 JS> small children.  
I think it would be a good idea to start with something like Borlands Delphi
which is PASCAL based or the C++ version of this, C++ Builder (haven't tried
it so don't know if it's any good). 
The big advantage is that these programs write a large part of your program
for you and making a simple program is just a matter of dragging some buttons
and the like into your application and write a few lines of code behind them
telling it what to do when it is pressed.
You'll see that you are writting impressive looking programs just days after
you started learning it, these programs might not do very much but as you are
learning more about the language the more you can do. and as i see what you
want to use it for, my guess is that after you got the interface you're
already half way there.
Niels...
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