convolutions

[Ray Andrews <rayandrews@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Gentlemen:

    echo "$(eval echo "\${$(cat in_file)}")" >! out_file

That's the best I've been able to do expanding color variables, eg. " 
${red} " into their native " \e[31;1m " in a file.  It's not a prize 
winner as far as zsh obfuscation goes, still, can it be done more 
simply? Also, I'd not be surprised to learn that there's one of those 
ancient little utilities that already does that:

    cat in_file | ancient_utility > outfile

is there?