f0dder: What's a good place to start teaching yourself machine architecture if you're completely new to it? Any book/online tutorial recommendations?

I would recommend the book Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software. It is a very entertaining and educational read. I think it is one of Petzold's best books ever. It will get you from two kids passing messages to assembly language programming and beyond. I can even recommend it to CS majors as an entertaining way to review the process from A-Z and compliment their existing education.