Rookie mistake missing those $. I think that python is different. One of the advantages of Perl for me is that it's more forgiving.This can suck sometimes especially if your trying to keep your code error proof. I've programmed for 3 years now. Its heavily impacted my thoughts. Often when giving directions I'll find myself self slipping into python pseudocode, "if you see the store turn right" or "while your on this road look for_." These are of course minor phrasing changes but not what I would have said before I knew python. Perl is refreshing because it seems to conform to how I think, not force me to think like it.