Maybe your brain subconciously slurped up the whole post as it was presented on screen then pushed the correct answer to the top of your stack? Kind of follows basic neural-network strongest path relationship logic as well.
Happens to me sometimes, and this is the best answer I can come up with. Maybe I shouldn't post after bedtime :-)
Oh, and to make it on topic, I like "use warnings;" so much more than perl -w, not sure why on this one, it just makes more sense.