in reply to looking for simple way to check scalar against array

Efficient:
for (1,2,3..9,-12) { if ($i == $_) { print "$i is a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or -12\n"; last; } }
Shorter, but less efficient:
print "$i is a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or -12\n" if grep { $_ == $i } (1,2,3..9,-12);