You can also use the hstore contrib module in the current PostgreSQL versions, which has a gem (https://github.com/softa/activerecord-postgres-hstore) for ActiveRecord and Heroku support (at least in some database plans). Seriously, PostgreSQL is the best Not-Quite-So-SQL DBMS out there.

Nothing tastes good at room temperature when it's above 30 celsius!

Understand the Javascript language, because it is a simple, yet powerfull language on its own. So, before digging deeper into libraries and tools, take some time to read the javascript garden, which will give you the dirty parts: http://bonsaiden.github.com/JavaScript-Garden/ And, as previous posters already said, the Crockford site which will give you good insight into good practices and useful patterns: http://www.crockford.com/

Speaking in any way is a good start, I'm sometimes impressed on how many people will not talk about death at all!

As a former resident of an exoplanet I must protest. This is an stereotype created by pop culture, not all aliens wear their underwear outside their pants, you insensitive clod!

Sure, but it's even better when you play those games at the end of the day while drinking and smoking.

yeah, better than vi, MacVim for instance

Take a look at SQL alternatives. There's an interesting PostgreSQL use case which uses only open source tools to achieve a good horizontal scaling solution. This post tells a little about how they did it: http://highscalability.com/skype-plans-postgresql-scale-1-billion-users The post also says that there is a very similar approach using MySQL.

I'm been thinking for some time about moving to Canada. Though, I'm a little afraid of the Brazilian reputation outside Brazil (don't think it's very good). I'm mainly a database architect (work with PostgreSQL), but also a *nix developer. Does someone here has something to say about experiences working with or hiring people from Brazil?