Benchmark: timing 1000000 iterations of eq, lc, re...
        eq:  3 wallclock secs ( 2.76 usr +  0.00 sys =  2.76 CPU)
        lc:  3 wallclock secs ( 2.69 usr +  0.00 sys =  2.69 CPU)
        re:  3 wallclock secs ( 3.13 usr +  0.00 sys =  3.13 CPU)