Zach Dennis wrote:
> James Edward Gray II wrote:
> 
>> file_contents = File.read("/usr/blah/1.txt")
> 
> or, for two more characters shortened...
> 
> file_contents = IO.read("/usr/blah/1.txt")

One less...

file_contents = IO.read "/usr/blah/1.txt"

Of course, you can also truncate the variable name...
:-)

    robert