Writing better MySQL Queries for beginners

MySQL is a wonderful database but many programmers and administrators have a hard time writing queries that are efficient and actually return the requested information.

1. SQL -- history and oddities

2. Data storage -- why all INTs should not be BIGINT and all VARCHARs not VARCHAR(255).

3. Tables design

4. Indexes -- why to index columns on the right side of a WHERE

5. Query monitoring and optimization

6. Review