http://code.google.com/appengine/docs/python/datastore/

No joins (except for "self joins"), entity groups, sharded counters, and the mindset that computations should be on write instead of on query. At the end, you can work through this article that shows how to implement a YC-style decaying vote score purely on writing of entities (records):

http://code.google.com/appengine/articles/overheard.html

Everyone else that replied thank you as well, some stuff that I will file away for next time. :-)

The rise of a new hardware platform is a rare occasion compared to the many fresh software products coming out on a regular basis.

p.s. Don't expect it to be like what you'd normally call a programming language.

It's a race against time and terror!

Hurry, CommieBob, Before there's still time!!

Educational and fun.

Just to add to the mix. How about TED Lectures, youtube around for old Feynman or Steve Jobs videos, check out OpenCourseWare or any of those online learning sites and make a dent in an interesting course. Catch up w/ friends on the phone.

I also second the jQuery, Python, Django, Google App Engine, and Processing crews.

Hope your ankle gets better soon!

Any other reading suggestions along these lines (or similar)?

If you decode to explore Python, try the Dive Into Python tutorial (http://diveintopython.org/) followed by the Django tutorial ( http://docs.djangoproject.com/en/dev/intro/tutorial01/) seeing as how you know php and two databases. Both are short and can be completely finished in a weekend of work.

Do let us know what you learned !Good Luck!

Alternatively: Pick a power editor (I recommend emacs) and practice with that.

Edit: Don't waste your time. I stopped because you end up spending most of your time figuring out little well-concealed clues that have nothing to do with programming at all (after you get past the easier ones. I'd had enough at 6).

http://ask.metafilter.com/125874/Simple-useful-skills

- Learn to Pick a Lock.

- soldering (though any hacker worth his/her salt can do this already)

- read braille

- juggling

- sign language

--

I'd like to add my own here: basic electronics

It is a very useful skill though! (but then again plenty of things are).