[Haskell-beginners] Functors and Applicatives; I'm just not getting it ...

I've had a go at LYAH and CIS 194 and the Typeclassopedia and I just don't get get functors and applicatives. I'm simply not understanding them, what the various symbols/keywords mean, what they represent, how to think of them, etc. Nothing. Is there any kind of documented model I should be considering? Is there a "functors and applicatives for Dummies" I should read? Should I just give it up, not bother with Haskell and just stick to scheme/ruby/C++? -- P.S.: I prefer to be reached on BitMessage at BM-2D8txNiU7b84d2tgqvJQdgBog6A69oDAx6