Choice of platform for running web site on Amazon EC2 Linux instance using Solr?

It's really hard to advise someone with completely different background. First you have to forget for a minute all that you know about Linux :) I would try heroku.com You don't need to know Linux to deploy to heroku. They have a free plan and they have a Solr add-on, $20/month though.

Be warned: If you go RoR route you may never come back to ASP.NET again. No kidding.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.