I agree with all of the previous points, the book references are excellent. Just to add a further point, one of my favourate sayings (that I may have ripped off but I dont recall) is that a good programmer is a lazy perfectionist, be lazy love it live it, you are using a puter if it is hard you are doing it wrong, find another quicker way to do whatever you are trying to do. Let the puter take the strain.
It often takes longer to find and impliment the 'quicker' way but in the long run you will be in a better position for next time.
It is in the application of just this sentement that I use perl, a fab way for me to be lazy.
-- Zigster