Don't make things harder than they have to be! Just do this: 
open (FILE,"<$input_file") or die "Couldn't open file $input_file, $!\
+n";
while (<FILE>) {
    chomp;
    if ($_) {
        $entry .= "$_\n";
    } else {
        push @data, $entry;
        $entry = "";
    }
}
close FILE;

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In reply to Re: When is an code^$/code not a code^$/code? by ton
in thread When is an ^$ not a ^$ ? by Clownburner

Title:
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and:  <code> code here </code>
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