C:\test>junk2
0 : 1227891440.24088 } 
0 : 1227891440.26269 } 22 milliseconds to start a thread
0 : 1227891440.26288
0 : 1227891440.28761 } 24 milliseconds to start a thread

1 : 1227891441.27213  }
$VAR1 = {
          'a' => {},
          'b' => {}
        };
1 : 1227891441.27275  } 62 microseconds to dump the hash

2 : 1227891441.28775  }
$VAR1 = {
          'a' => {},
          'b' => {}
        };
2 : 1227891441.28835  } 60 microseconds to dump the hash