Question: Can anyone point me to a tutorial for electronic noobs that 
explains how to use op-amps and what I can do with them, besides
amplification?

Answer: 
I know it's not all online, but [the Art of Electronic by Horowitz and Hill](http://books.google.com/books?id=bkOMDgwFA28C&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs%5Fnavlinks%5Fs#v=onepage&q=&f=false) is fantastic. It's basically the only book you need for the first 2 years of learning electronics (especially if you don't have any math requirements). The second edition of the book was published back in the late 80s and a lot of the example circuits using op amps are spectacular examples.
Try [Opamps for Everyone](http://focus.ti.com/lit/an/slod006b/slod006b.pdf) (warning -- large pdf, and some TI bias)

It has lots to teach, covers beginning to somewhat advanced topics, and it's free.