Seconding Ruby. The tutorial that later got expanded into the Prag Prog book is available free online: http://pine.fm/LearnToProgram/ http://pine.fm/LearnToProg

Seconding Ruby. The tutorial that later got expanded into the Prag Prog book is available free online: http://pine.fm/LearnToProgram/ http://pine.fm/LearnToProgram/ I'm told it's very good. And then there's always Why's Poignant Guide to Ruby, which is fun to read and teaches surprisingly well.