My webhost is a compnay out of New Hampshire, WebServePro, great bunch of people, I have actually been with them for about 4 years now (a couple of very small, simple web sites). They have always bent over backwards to help me out.
I have yet to check to see if they are running mod_perl, but if they are, I will ask them to install PLP, after reading the docs on it, it looks like it woudl simplify alot of what I am trying to do.
I have learning Pearl, as I am accustomed to communicating with infants, and the most advanced books I have read inthe past 7 to 8 years all involved a big red dog named Clifford, I am finding it slow going. I tracked down a copy of the SAMs book (Learn Perl in 21 days) locally and am going to run out this afternoo to pick it up.
Thanks for the heads up on the modules, now I have to figure out how to *use* them <s>.