In learning PHP, I have done the script to get data from google adwords keyword tool and make an analysis report by them. That's interesting way to learn PHP really.
When I was doing that tool, I didn't know that the scraper is not good for the web site. Even I didn't know what's the meanings of scraper. After I read "scraper" in http://www.wikipedia.com, I think that I should close the whole project.
Google is a very good tool in the Interent, and many of its tools are free and open, good and useful, even excellent. It helps many people, I think, including me. I won't hurt anything about google. I heard that google are overload in recently, and I think that many people try to use its service with greedy mind, that's hurt. We get to use the service freely, and we even don't need to pay it. We should appreicate them not just request something intensivly from them. Hope google will be better and better, help more people in the right way.
As a programmer, we get to learn something from others, and I like to learn from others. I think sometimes maybe I can help someone, if they get here and tell me what they want. I will help them as my pleasure. If you need any helps, please leave me a comment, you can add your email address in the comment <Just account and host, not exactly the format avoid the web email scraper>, I will not open the comment in public.
Anyway, I am just learning PHP, not very good at it. When I talk with you, indeed I am learning from you...^_^
Good Luck!