'Spaw, don't understand why some non-government group doesn't do what we did on a larger scale. Why not get a grant to wire up all these senior citizens, go to their homes, or even in homes for the elderly, check out their computer, with a backup help line in case of real trouble? What would you need -- five people, a van, and one real techhie who knew the difference between MICROSOFT and MAC? These days, you could probably get a grant to give people a computer. It would transform the lives of all kinds of people -- all they need is a little start up help, and some kind words. There are all these underused computers out there, and people to match. I suppose, as usual, the problem is not technical skill: it is finding people with enough courtesy to be invited into older people's homes, and to make them feel empowered, as opposed to useless around machines. Drives you crazy.

yours, Peter