Python question (PyNoob)

[Anonymous]

I have exp with C/C++ (and a few other langs). I want to use Python to 
start doing the ff:

1). Data Munging (text processing) - instead of Perl
2). Automating my build process
3). (Possibly) some web data retrieval jobs

Can anyone point me to resurces/possibly scripts that can get me up to 
speed (to do these 3 things) ASAP, without having to learn the basics of 
programming?