my $filehandle = &magic_box(@ARGV);  
    my $thisDataset = &doStuff($filehandle);
{
my (%HASH);  #this wasn't here till after talking to dave :)
             #if you'd like to comment on the effects with 
             #and without i'd be very interested :)
sub doStuff {
    while(<>) {
           my @array = split(/,/);
           my $key = shift @array;
           $HASH{$key} = [@array];
    }                             
    return(\%HASH); # this is the same as $thisDataset now
}                   # at least, $thisDataset is the same as 
}                   # this... :)   
&someThingElse($thisDataset);
sub someThingElse {
   foreach my $KEY (sort keys %{$_[0]}) {
              print "$KEY\n"; 
              foreach my $VALUE (@{$_{$KEY}}) {
                     print "$VALUE,";
              }
              print "\n";
   }  # in the real world, i do more with this stuff but i 
}     # think this illustrates the point adequately