Hi Tracy,

>No one else willing to contribute their personal opinion?
>I DO realize that this is a very subjective
>question so a subjective answer is fully anticipated...

Given a limited amount of spending money I would "invest" in
real books: they tend to survive longer and
give more bang for the buck IMHO.

And if you want something really off the normal ways of doing:
one thing I sometimes do is read software,
but I had this as a "group thing" only once.

Doesn't have to be a finished framework nor be perfect:
It gives you idea's outside the normal day-to-day rut,
and it is written in a language that you know by heart.

Seeing other people's style and code can teach you a LOT.

my 0.02 EUR

thomas