$/ = '>';
  # throw away first (junk) record
  defined(<$fh>) or ($! and die "reading: $!");
  while (defined(my $record = <$fh>) or ($! and die "reading: $!")) {
    $record =~ s{ \n }{}xmsg;
    process($record);
    }

##</code><code>##

  while (defined(my $record = <$fh>) or ($! and die "reading: $!")) {
    chomp $record;  # remove $/ string
    $record =~ s{ \n }{}xmsg;
    process($record);
    }