# reading from file
# format: LEAD=fred FRIEND=barney
while ( <> ) {
  $rec = {};
  for $field ( split ) {
    ($key, $value) = split /=/, $field;
    $rec->{$key} = $value;
  }
  push @AoH, $rec;
}

##</code><code>##

while ( <> ) {
  #$rec = {};
  $rec = ();
  for $field ( split ) {
    ($key, $value) = split /=/, $field;
    #$rec->{$key} = $value;
    $rec{$key} = $value;
  }
  push @AoH, $rec;   #?
}