php learning, bought a book but....

Bought a book, title's something like "learn PHP, MySQL, and apache." I used to be able to buy a book, read, try, look back, try.....eventually I'd pickup a new(to me) web design language.
I bought that book a year ago.
My employer seems to "pile it on" more and more, life's been hectic and busy where I'm so tired I just don't have the attention span to read 2-300 pages and study and learn. OH I could read a story but for retention? to learn? it takes more focus.
I'm looking for a "quick and dirty" tutorial. I don't wanna be a whiz, just be a little comfy. Sometime, maybe on vacation, I'll read the book. Need something now though. Any recommendations?

Well, w3schools.com has some pretty good tutorials. Check out this link...

http://www.w3schools.com/php/default.asp

Also...

Sometime, maybe on vacation, I'll read the book. Need something now though.


Dude, vacations are for you to relax. I'm not sure about you, but I try to completly unplug when I'm on vacation. No computer, phone, nothing. It's quite refreshing! :D

I know javascript fairly well and CGi just somewhat too. Most pages I looked at look like stuff I already know minus a <?. It's not, but it looks that way. Know what I mean?
As for vacation. I fondly look back to days off where I'd start working on something for my site and get so into it I'd stay up all night and since I don't have to work I'll just sleep the next day. I love it.

I found these ones good:

http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/01/48/index2a.html?tw=programming
http://www.freewebmasterhelp.com/tutorials/php

Plus this one which gets into MySQL & PHP:

http://www.freewebmasterhelp.com/tutorials/phpmysql/2

If you know Perl, then PHP should be very easy for you to pick up!

As for books, going from recommendations & reviews this one seems best:

Build Your Own Database Driven Website Using PHP & MySQL - Second Edition - by Kevin Yank

I plan to be getting that one myself shortly! :D