Benchmark: timing 500 iterations of new, old...
       new:  4 wallclock secs ( 4.20 usr +  0.01 sys =  4.21 CPU) @ 118.76/s (n=500)
       old: 57 wallclock secs (54.36 usr +  0.05 sys = 54.41 CPU) @  9.19/s (n=500)