Beginner programming advise

So I'd like to learn some basics about computer programming (how to's, the different languages, how they work. Just good ol' home grown programming) and wanna know if there are any online resources or programs out there that might help. Don't really want to take a class, hear they're outdated and a waste of time at the beginner level anyways. Any advice would be rad! Thanks!

OP:Guess this should be on /prog/ ... Oops! *Shoves hotdog into urethra*

/prog/: Install Ubuntu and Racket. read SICP.

>>1
http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-computer-science/6-189-a-gentle-introduction-to-programming-using-python-january-iap-2008/