You should now have everything you need to get MySQL and PHP installed on your Web Server. If the little example above didn't work (for example, if the raw PHP code appeared instead of the date), something went wrong with your setup procedure. Drop by the SitePoint Forums and we'll be glad to help you figure out the problem!
In "Getting Started with MySQL", you'll learn the basics of relational databases and get started working with MySQL. If you've never even touched a database before, I promise you it'll be a real eye opener!