I find the Widnows/Mac Web2py download to be one of the easiest ways to get started and to learn to program. You will thank yourself later by learning Python instead of PHP. Python is easy to learn because it is pretty well thought-out, the syntax is clean and easy to read, there is not a lot of extraneous crud, etc.
With the Windows or Mac download of Web2py, you can be programming in minutes using either a text editor or the built-in text editor. There is enough sample code that you will be able to figure out how to write your own in a short period of time after observing the existing code. The "Web2py Book" includes a brief, easy-to follow intro to Python: http://web2py.com/books/default/chapter/29/2 Then, just follow the Overview: http://web2py.com/books/default/chapter/29/3
