gistfile1.rb

# brainfreeze!
# what is the idiomatic ruby for this:
# if the var is an array, do_something with each element, otherwise just do something with the var
if var.is_a?(Array)
  var.each do |element|
    do_something(element)
  end
else
  do_something(var)
end

# Thanks to Mike Gunderloy, this works a treat:
[*var].to_a.each { |element| do_something(element) }
# irb
*[[0,1,2,3],[4,5,6,7]].to_a.each { |ele| puts ele.class } # => Array Array
*[0,1,2,3].to_a.each { |ele| puts ele.class } # Fixnum Fixnum Fixnum Fixnum
[*0].to_a.each { |ele| puts ele.class } # Fixnum