Re: array of hashes

[punkish]

@a = (
    {a => "ford", b => "red", c => "dog"},
    {a => "honda", b => "blue", c => "cat"},
    {a => "dodge", b => "orange", c => "spider"}
);

say "$a[0]{a}, $a[1]{a}"

Other than that, shortening it doesn't achieve much. Unless, of course, there is more to this question than you are revealing.