Well actually it has been my experience thus far Acadia that something to look forward too, even if it is months away gives him a big pick me up. Different things I have sent him, up to date information we have sent him, etc., have already made him decide that he would like to have a computer when he gets out. Prior to that it was just, a job, a house, a woman that loves him, a truck and a dog. We should all be so lucky. The whole computer revolution just sort of passed him by while he has been away. He earned his HVAC degree while he served his time and now does work for the prison and assists in teaching it. I imagine a job will be something he can get. Also having a supportive family for the first time in 30 odd years will hopefully make a difference. I'm relatively poor being disabled and can't get him the house, woman, truck or dog. But I do have a LOT of spare computer parts and a few people that owe me favours and plan to make sure when he gets out,(he may well be staying with us) he will have a computer, hopefully loaded with Poser 5. I hope I know enough to be able to explain things to him quickly but I know that I will have to teach him the Internet as well. In my experience this requires a whole paradigm shift to get a handle on. Ten years ago it was all greek to me. Then one day something shifted and it made a lot more sense. In his own words prison makes one learn patience. Showing him a few pictures will make it easier for me to explain what I mean. Meanwhile I plan to keep helping him obtain any of the art supplies he needs. I just want to expose him to digital art so he can see that it is not as primitive as he might think nor is it as constrained. Get him thinking about the possibilities. Cheers, RWB64