#!/usr/local/bin/perl -w
use strict;
   my $last = "";
   my $first = "";
   my $middle = "";

   ( $last, $first )   = split /,/ , 'thumb,tom' ;
   print "last:($last)  first($first) middle($middle)\n";

   ( $first, $middle ) = split / / , $first ;
   print "last:($last)  first($first) middle($middle)\n";

##</code><code>##

gonzo:/export/home/fredk/: ./bar.pl 
last:(thumb)  first(tom) middle()
Use of uninitialized value at ./bar.pl line 11.
last:(thumb)  first(tom) middle()