Supergirl, loved your post, you've given the best advice there is to be honest.
Justforgroup, I disagree with your piece of advice completely.
Tmurphy, Supergirl has said it already so there is no real point in repeating it but go off your own bat and depend on yourself and only yourself. Get yourself a cheap broker (Firstrade, Scotrade, TDW). Read Ben Graham's book (mentioned above) and pick up William O'Neills "How to Make Money in Stocks" for a more short term approach to trading (antithesis to Ben Grahams approach but good to understand both and develop your own strategy), join IBD if you want instant access to what is top of the NASDAQ list (which I might add, stocks of which will priced accordingly).
Dont listen to message boards like these and immediately ignore people with high flying tips unless of course your research indicates they were right!