Welcome aboard mate..hope you have fun here and be part of this great community. Try the glass jug tutorial as well..very simple and quite a suprise at how you can make glass. The cartoon Dog is relatively easy and fun.

I am a noob as well and have only been doing it for 5 months...I couldnt have done or advanced to where I am without the people here mate..they are the most helpful kind around here.

Check out also Gnomons Maya basics disc 1 if you can get it..no models but a real rundown of all the buttons menu's etc etc. Then come back here and grab some tutorials....its great fun man.

Good luck and hope the job comes in

cheers bullet