php -- for idiots

i want to learn php but i have no idea where to start. where is a REALLY good site that i can start reading up on it and learning it pretty quickly?

Fusiun recommended to me (and it worked, even though i got lazy about it) this:

1. head on over to download.com and download your very own free version of PHPTriad. wee! Free!

2. search on google for a php4 book in pdf format. The one that I found (and was also the same one that fusiun used) was called Beginning PHP4, and it has the pictures of like 2 white guys, an old indian guy, and a chinese guy on the cover. or something.

3. Enjoy :D

(To run phptriad, install it, then you have to hit "run apache" and also "run mysql" in the start menu. then when you create your php files, you put them into c:\apache\htdocs. To get to that phpfile, you would go to IE and type in "Http://localhost/XXX.php" where xxx is the name of the php file. For example, in htdocs, I have a folder called "pat" and a file inside called "sexy.php", so to run it I'd go to IE and type in http://localhost/pat/sexy.php. Presto.)

edit. This post belongs in server side help.

(sorry pank, hate to pop in and link off-site, but it's a good link). I cant guarantee every link will work, the thread is a couple of years old, but the general, necessary links work.
http://www.sitepointforums.com/showthread.php?threadid=18699.

For a local (Windows) installation, I recommend Firepages. Not that PHPTriad isn't good, I personally think Firepages does a better job of keeping updated material available to download.

edit: There's also this link by deker in the Resources section:
http://teamphotoshop.com/forum/vbforum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13795

omg...it's... MBB. :eek:

*pokes violently*

thx guys... thats a big book... i gotta get to reading