Actually, by importing the :standard list of functions from the CGI.pm module and using its function-oriented style, you do not need to declare a CGI query object. Or, conversely, if you want to use CGI.pm's object-oriented methods as fuzzyping has demonstrated, then the qw(:standard) import statement is unnecessary. Either way works, it's a matter of taste (I prefer the OO style).

Hope you don't take this as a flame :)

..Guv