I started programming when I was 12 (6th grade). I am now 15 (Turning 16 in November) I think I started with BASIC. I just got the grip of how programs work (Source, compile, etc) and then I found out about Visual Basic (VB.NET). That and Microsoft's "Absolute Beginner's" Video tutorial series really hooked me on. Absolute Beginner's video guide is like a step-by-step video tutorial that really helped me learn. Not only it goes through projects but teach essential topics and theories. It also brushes up on Object-Oriented programming with the usual "Car" object with mileage, mpg, model, year, maker, etc. By the time I could consult the MSDN documentations and write a task-manager equivalent app by myself, I knew I was growing out of the language. Then I tried to move on to C# but I found the transition a little difficult. I didn't give it enough time and patience for it to bloom... Then I found Flash. Actionscript goodiness. This is where I spent a good solid 2+ years on. I can't generate life-like trees, but I can make a full website full with transitions and dynamic data loading and video playing and mp3 play list and all the goodness. Actionscript is really easy to get in to. Its basically Javascript modified by Apple to fit Flash's needs. Then now, I'm moving on to desktop. I'm learning Cocoa and Objective-C. So far I've found it the best language to learn (that is most usable in the real world). Visual Basic's nice, but when I see Objective-C code and Visual Basic, I see so much needless junk in VB.NET it just makes me cringe. Now as for where your son starts, it is really up to you. Where did you start? Also, patience, patience, patience is the most important thing, and this is a good opportunity to teach your son lots and lots of patience. Tell him that instant gratification does not come without years of hard work. Scratch, even though it seems simple, can teach a lot about computer science. The goal of scratch is not memorizing syntax and methods, but learning how computers and programs function. The "theories" should be taught in Scratch where you don't have to emphasize with syntax and all the "confusing" things. Then perhaps should move on to Visual Basic, and after almost mastering that, perhaps he should start on Objective-C/Cocoa (About Senior by then?) And if his computer isn't a mac (his primary usage computer) then he should get started on C/C++. Good luck to your son and his journey, and feel free to have him email me anytime. I'd love to talk with him, after all, I'm

Hello. I currently got new hosting from Media Temple and I switched my Code Project's email to the new one... However it doesn't work! I turn off ALL the server-level spam filters and everything but when I change it back to my Gmail address the email goes through! Is there a way that I can contact a webmaster to see if the email was bounced back? Also anyone else who has MediaTemple hosting? Do you still get emails from Code Project through your webmail? Thanks! Keehun Nam

The cool thing about my list is that it's 100% free! I'm pretty sure your hospital bills are enough. :rose:

Assuming that you aren't a hard-core gamer in the past being a programmer,: I'd suggest Americas Army both 2.6 and 2.8. Those can be ran very fast on slow machines and doesn't take much resources... 2.8 can be as big as 2 GB though. It's the most realistic game there is for FPS (seeing that United States Army developed it). It's not a huge graphics intense game, but fun and addictive. It's more of team-role and reverse-psychology as you try to think of where the opponent's gonna go and things like that... Also, you have level ranks, and that formal stuff... As for Battlefield 1942, don't get the real version... Real version is too bureaucratic with Punkbuster and everything. (AA has punkbuster, but it's little different). instead get BF1942 DEMO. You can TK, you can do just about anything to relieve your stress... Some DEMO servers have great mods. also for the real version, most servers won't have the version your client-side game has... It took me about 20 min just to find a server that was compatible while DEMO takes about one or two seconds. Both BF1942 and Americas Army is not too graphics intensive but fun and addictive. A Two thumbs up from me. Keehun