The elements of enlightenment

[Ray Andrews <rayandrews@eastlink.ca>]

I  think I've finally actually figured out the reason that lines aren't 
elements and elements aren't lines even though they can print exactly 
the same:

     $ list=( $( setopt ) )

... We get word splitting and the option and the value 'print -l' on 
different lines and '$#list' is the count of the number of words/lines 
namely twice the number of options.  Good, fine, and understood.  But I 
want the option and it's value on the same line, just as if 'setopt' was 
executed at CLI.  By double quoting: ( "$( setopt )" ) we seem to have 
solved the problem, it prints correctly.  But trouble lurks in the 
shadows.   I do this:

     $  list=( "${list[@]/ off/${red} off${nrm}}" )

... And I'm baffled that only the very first 'off' is colorized. Why?  
Because '$#list' = 1!  It looks like we have each line as a separate 
element but we don't.  It only looks that way because the newlines in 
the output are still in there, they aren't 'print -l' newlines, they're 
newlines in the data itself!! They look the same but they are *not* the 
same.  To really get what it looks like I have I must first:

     $ list=( ${(f)list} )

NOW our element count is what we want it to be -- one per line and every 
'off' get colored.  Newlines aren't elements and elements aren't 
newlines.  Finally!  I'll never be fooled by appearances again.  Do I 
have this right?  Only took ten years :(