I think i figured out the problem, I went back an used a CGI object, and it worked. I assume (and we all know what happens when you assume...) that tripod castrated the CGI.pm file so that now all you can use is the OO part... here's working code:

   use CGI;
   $q = new CGI;
   print $q->header,
         $q->start_html('hello world'),
         $q->h1('hello world'),
         $q->end_html;
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Thanks for all of your help

        - Ace "Two programmers walk into a bar, the third ducks"