ussnorway: Does it have to be java for some reason?
Don't call JavaScript Java! These are two totally different coding languages.
ussnorway: 3. They have a flash program web builder with 20 or so free templates to get you up and running within 10 mins of clicking the mouse… a monkey could probably do it in 20.
They are the new MySpace/Beepworld/etc.?
ussnorway: Ajax ... standard… hardly new
HTML5 and JavaScript (ECMAscript) are living standards which features added over time, so some of that is always new.
Sources for learning JavaScript:
JavaScript Guide on Mozilla Developer Network JavaScript Tutorial on tizag.com Link collection for learning JavaScript I'd recommend
a) if you want to do something interactive: Create a HTML page with a form and do something when the submit button has been pressed.
b) if you want to start with calculations etc, the Scratchpad is a good tool. It's usually in the developer tools, e.g. Firefox > Web developer > Scratchpad. If you combine that with the possibility to print to the Browser Console with console.log(...), you are ready to start.