Here's a shopping list:
-Buy the Van De Haagen shaving set. Its basic but if you can lather with it you can lather with anything. Also its a good jump off point as joesixpack pointed out. Unless you have a research fund like the economic bailout. Then buy whatever you want. The advantage to starting with the cheapo set means you'll develop more skill lathering, and you'll be able to see if you want a brush that can handle cream or soap better, whether you lather in a mug, in a bowl, in your hand, on your face etc (which i recently found out, there is a difference and it will impact your brush choice). Also I think the bowl itself is worth $10. Nice and big and comfy to hold. Best thing I own for lathering.
-Lynn's DVD. If it doesn't help you learn it will at least provide a lot of info for your research
-A styptic agent, be it powder, a block, or a pencil. Because you will desanguinate yourself. (you'll like the irony in that there is a brand of razor: Sanguine... somewhat ominous but oh well. Don't buy their razors. They're crap. The shavettes are decent though)
PS: Please can you at least write some articles for papers like NYT and WP? Let's get the word out!