The SQL function you're looking for is UNIX_TIMESTAMP(any sql time column).
So SELECT UNIX_TIMESTAMP(timestamp) AS timestamp FROM table; or whatever you need.
Using mysqltcl really isn't difficult (at least on *ix, I have little experience with using it on a Windrop, though I execpt it's as easy as dropping a dll in the windrop dir and loading it from the script with the 'load' command. It *should* be possible to use this module in a .itcl as well, and it might even let u use persistent connections. It's availiable here:
http://www.xdobry.de/mysqltcl/ Windows binaries here:
http://www.xdobry.de/mysqltcl/windows.html
Oh and whoever wanted to import data from a text file, look into the LOAD DATA INFILE SQL command:
http://www.mysql.com/doc/en/LOAD_DATA.html