The only reason that this is slower than the faq answer, or the solution i just posted, is that you are using map in void context. This is an efficiency no-no.

update: demerphq is also correct, removing the lexical context indeed contributes some of the performance increase. Since this is a one-time performance penalty, its effect will be greater relative to smaller arrays.

   MeowChow                                   
               s aamecha.s a..a\u$&owag.print