Hey

Try:
$_ = "host|db_name|user|some\@thing";

or:

$_ = 'host|db_name|user|some@thing';

In you example Perl is looking for the @thing list...
(Unless declared by you) it will be 'undef', and your
password (after the split) will look like "some"

something you won`t notice when you don't use strict and -w

So use strict, and -w

GreetZ!,

ChOas

print "profeth still\n" if /bird|devil/;