In order of importance:

1. Light
2. Computer with VNC client (ya ain't givin' me no Intel shit!)
3. MacPerl 5 (no need to comment on this- especially if you have never used it!)
4. a foul-smelling feline
5. my favorite tracker (.MOD music format is no. 1!)
6. multiple ssh-telnet connections to a UN*X of my choice
7. plenty o' books on topic at hand
8. a stiff chair to meld my spine to optimally-crooked position
9. anything else I forget

AgentM Systems nor Nasca Enterprises nor Bone::Easy nor Macperl is responsible for the comments made by AgentM. Remember, you can build any logical system with NOR.