What should I be practicing to master the blades? I really want to use my roller blades as my primary mode of transportation. I got them a couple of months ago and haven't been doing anything terribly bold with them since I don't have any wrist gaurds. 

What types of motions or runs should I be practicing in order to do things like speed up and stop quickly? How do I practicing going downhill without falling? is learning how to powerstop necesary? I really hate my stupid rubber break, should I learn to love the thing or just take it off because it's in the way of more effeciant methods of slowing down/stopping?

Generally getting better advice very welcome.