There's are plenty of things that are great about Ruby on Rails, but I don't recommend *Rails* as a starting point. Without any background in programming, SQL, HTML, or JavaScript, there's a good chance you'll overwhelmed, or at least confused. RoR covers a LOT of ground. I think Ruby, Python, and Groovy would all be good languages to start with, but don't worry about picking "THE" technology yet or a full framework. Even if you do pick the "right" technology that you make into a career, there will be plenty else to learn, now and in the future.

Here's are some specific recommendations:
A) First, there is no need to quit your job yet. Consistently use some of your evenings and weekends to explore and learn. If you find out you don't like one of the technologies I've recommended, don't sweat it. It may not be for you, or it just might be the wrong time.

B) Try some programming, and see how you like the logic and puzzle-solving part of it. Here are two books I'd recommend to get started, in no particular order:
    1) "Python Programming: An Introduction to Computer Science" (Second Edition) by John Zelle
    2) "Why's (Poignant) Guide to Ruby" by _Why the Lucky Stiff - http://mislav.uniqpath.com/poignant-guide/

C) Try some web development and see how you like the design, layout, and organization of it. Start with the book "Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML" by Elisabeth Freeman & Eric Freeman. You'll learn HTML the new school way, where presentation and structure are separated (and the web is better off for it).

D) Try visiting some user groups for different technologies, like Ruby on Rails, Groovy on Grails, Java, Python, .NET, MySQL Adobe Flex, whatever. You'll get a feel for the culture while learning new things.

E) Once you finish the above, there are several directions you can take:
    1) Want to program more? Sign up for a college class on programming. It doesn't matter whether it's C, Java, shell scripting, or whatever. Just take a class to continue developing your programming skills and develop an appreciation for the different aspects of the world of programming. And a class at a community or technical college can be perfect for this.
    2) If you're continuing down the programming path, buy another book on Ruby, Python, or try something new like Java, JavaScript or PHP. If you want something more hardcore, check out "The Joy of C" by Lawrence Miller and Alexander Quilici.
    3) If you continue progressing in programming, and/or if you really want to get into Ruby on Rails, Groovy on Grails, Spring, or any framework, you'll probably want to take a class on Intro to Databases or just pickup a book on SQL. If you liked Head First HTML book, then check out Head First SQL, and/or get the very concise "My SQL Crash Course" by Ben Forta. Knowing basic SQL and database essentials will make you better with Rails, Grails, Spring, or any framework. Or if you really like SQL and organizing things, database development and/or administration can become an entire career. And you may get into data mining or data ETL (over the years I've been exposed to Microsoft SQL Server, Sybase, MySQL, Oracle, Informatica, and lately to Microsoft SSIS).

F) If you've made it this far, you've probably picked your path, and possibly found a programming language you love. Your next steps may be one of the following:
    1) Dive fully into Rails, Grails, Django, Spring, JSF, force.com, or another framework.
    2) OR Learn more HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Play with JQuery, Dojo, or another JavaScript library.
    3) OR keep taking college courses, perhaps hardcore CS with Calculus, Physics. That's not the only route, but this will take you from good to great in programming. Don't overlook other options, including a BA in Computer Technology.
    4) OR if you're not not digging hardcore programming, school, and/or you crave more UI design and creativity, check out Adobe Flex and/or Flash (which include ActionScript), or (ahem) Microsoft Silverlight. Or you could just hardcore into games with stuff like Maya, and... hell, I don't know games. That's a whole other topic.

It's all good. Just keep developing yourself and pick what you enjoy.

I've been in IT over 15 years and have several software-specific certifications on my resume. My certifications cover both proprietary and FOSS, and none of them are from Microsoft. I've put in a lot of hard work of over the years to study, learn, and earn those certifications. Why do I bother?
1) To improve my chances of continuing to earn a good living.
2) Because each time I take on a new vendor certification, I use the vendor's outline of what they think I need to know to get organized and create a study plan outline for myself. And then I use my evenings and weekends studying EVERYTHING on my outline, including whatever as many hands-on exercises as I need to become grounded in that technology. So when I take a certification test, it's to make sure I learned the concepts and the nuances that vendor thinks are important. But I always end up learning quite a bit of extra stuff along the way, and all of this always makes me better at what I do.

My 2 bits.

As Roger pointed out, quantum physics led to the development of silicon-based semiconductors, so it would be difficult to overstate the contribution quantum physics has made to human civilization.

To simply look at the economic impact of quantum physics:
- According to Scientific America in 2001, "...an estimated 30 percent of the U.S. gross national product is based on inventions made possible by quantum mechanics, from semiconductors in computer chips to lasers in compact-disc players, magnetic resonance imaging in hospitals, and much more." - http://www.sciamdigital.com/index.cfm?fa=Products.ViewIssuePreview&ARTICLEID_CHAR=BA5565B3-F0C3-4227-AA52-5C83A901C02
- Mary Kay Plantes tweeted, "35% US GDP derives from quantum physics..." - http://twitter.com/mkplantes/status/30090442213163008

I could go on, but my wife is calling me for dinner. [note setup for joke about Slashdot users versus women]

Actually, language DOES help define culture within a society. Certain concepts simply do not exist or translate well in some languages. Here are two examples where there are translations, but the are imperfect; where something of the essence of the concept is truly "lost in translation":
- "Liberty" does not have a perfect 1:1 translation in Russian.
- "Personal space" does not have a perfect 1:1 translation in Japanese.

If something cannot be expressed in language, it cannot be communicated between people, and it usually is not part of the culture.

Sadly, the concept of being an a**hole to somebody that can't speak our native language seems to be shared by English and French speakers alike.

You obviously haven't tried the new MBP.

I've been a PC guy for 15 years, and I always hated the one-button mouse - and NO, I do NOT want to add a USB mouse to my laptop to have something functional. I want the built-in mouse to do the job.

But I played with a new MBP recently, and I was seriously impressed. The huge new multi-touch trackpad is sweet. The gestures make perfect sense, and you can even configure it (through an intuitive GUI) to have virtual left and right mouse buttons at the bottom corners, yet retain all of the multi-touch gestures.

It's really well done.

Mod parent up. I have two Dell laptops, I've been a PC guy for 15 years, but after playing with a new MBP recently, I'm seriously considering one for my next laptop. I always hated the one-button mouse (and NO, I do NOT want to add a USB mouse to my laptop to have something functional. I want the built-in mouse to do the job.

The huge new multi-touch trackpad is sweet. The gestures make perfect sense, and you can even configure it (through an intuitive GUI) to have virtual left and right mouse buttons at the bottom corners, yet retain all of the multi-touch gestures.

Very well done, Apple. Now make a Bluray drive available on the MBP, and you'll have a new customer.

The Notes "database" was one of the strengths and weaknesses of Lotus Notes.

Background - speaking strictly about the native Notes Storage Facility (.nsf) format (and not to newer options for RDMS virtualization or or DB2 backend for custom development):
- Everything in Lotus Notes is stored in a "note", each of which has an XML-like data structure. Keep in mind that there was no such thing as XML, or even the internet, when Lotus Notes was first developed.
- User data notes are usually called "documents".
- The components of the design of Lotus Notes application are also stored as XML-like data notes, and are usually called "design elements". So even forms, views, images, script libraries, etc, are stored in "notes".
- The data notes are not dependent on the underlying design elements for their existence. This is a really weird concept for SQL DBAs, where the data is bound to tables for its structure. Drop a table in the SQL world, and you lose your data. In the Notes world, if you delete a field from a form (a design element), the form itself, or even delete views (also design elements)... and the data is unaffected.
- All of the data and design "notes" for a Lotus Notes "database" are stored together a self-contained NSF file.

The loosely structured nature of a native Lotus Notes database means it is both VERY flexible, but lacks some of the rigor (and related benefits) associated with a true RDBMS. Oh, and you can't use SQL to do cool things like left and right outer joins. Instead, you use a Lotus formula language, LotusScript (very similar to Visual Basic), or Java to "lookup" data for display or for repeated storage within a note.

Even Notes data types are much more flexible/loosey-goosey than found in the RDBMS world. They can be boiled down to:
- Text (stored as the equivalent of varchar(32768) in the SQL world)
- Numbers (no need to define integers, floats, or doubles)
- Date/Time
- Rich Text (including attachments, formatting, tables, etc)
- "Name" type fields, which are related to Lotus Notes security.

The loose structure also lowers the barriers of entry to slap together a Notes database. A person can know enough to be productive/dangerous without having a clue about referential integrity, primary keys, or tables.

Disclaimer: During a different stage of my IT career, I was a certified Lotus Domino Application Developer -and- System Administrator.

The Lotus Notes UI WAS overdue for a significant overhaul. For years, it wasn't horrible interface design, but LACK of design that led to the meandering mess that most people experienced in the last two decades.

As of August 2007, IBM finally released a truly well-designed Lotus Notes mail client: Lotus Notes version 8.0, which is, IMHO, the most comprehensive remaking of the Lotus Notes client and its e-mail interface since Notes began. Every client release up until now had UI changes that were evolutionary at best.

The new client itself now sits on top of the Eclipse Rich Client Framework, and will consequently run on Windows and Linux (Mac support coming shortly with 8.5). And you can still access all the same Lotus Notes corporate applications that range considerably in quality. And in fact, the Notes 8.x client can still access Domino 7.x mail files, and they will look exactly the same as they did before (although client menus have changed).

But if you run Domino 8.x servers, with the 8.x mail template, and are using Notes 8.x, the e-mail UI is a ground-up redesign that is far superior to anything that came before it. If you've ever whined about Lotus Notes mail in the past, you should check it out - that complaint is now outdated.

My 2 bits...