Database recommendations

[Eunoshin]

Morning all! Excuse my ignorance here (this might not even be the right forum to post this), but I need some help.

In my program, I have need of a rather basic database. The database will just be readonly, and will be read at the start of the program and then will not be used again for the duration.

However, I am completely new to implementation of databases, both in general and also to use them with Actionscript. Would any of you be willing to recommend 1) What kind of database to use, 2) The best / simplest way to read databases into Actionscript, and/or 3) Simple guides to help me wrap my head around all the various terminology involved? I see PHP and MySQL tossed around, and I don't know if they're competing technologies, or used at different steps of the process, or WHAT.

Any time you could take out of your busy days would be greatly appreciated.