don' work too hard let python do the work for you by using the stuff built in to its standard library don' write loop when comprehension will do built-in syntax for transforming one data structure (listsdictionariesinto another version of itself without resorting to iteration learn as you gonot all at onceand learn constantly (rememberconcepts are the important things idle is often good for quick jobs (and has some useful tools don' reinvent the wheel check the python package index (pypifirst from author of "head first pythonbook paul berry