[csbk]

What programing language do you recommend for a novice?
(What programing tools would you recommend?)

What I would like to do:
I would like to make programs for my work environment for simple information entry and query. I would like to use the same language at home, and for others to use. I don't want to learn a language that will die out soon. I would like to learn something simple yet versatile and portable and maybe web based.

Background:
I have written programs in a Fortran related language a few years ago. I learned shell scripting too, but my companies do not use Unix anymore. I played with Basic, C, Java but not together and not a lot. I also know a little XML XSL Transformations, but have had a hard time with anything having to do with making forms work.

Ideas:
(Not Basic)
Ajax
Java
C++
PHP

Ajax looks interesting but I would like to use on client side too.
Ajax with Java?