DAMN slow?

# Adapted from Ro's http://paste.tclers.tk/166
#
# * the original ran here in 32 secs 8.4.12, 54 secs in 8.5a4
# * reduced to 1000 iterations: 9 vs 15 secs
# * replaced [up1timer] with builtin [time]: no change
# * removed all Tk code, ran this under different patchlevels: 
#    8.3.4    9 seconds
#    8.4.12   9 seconds
#    8.4.15   8 seconds
#    8.5a4   15 seconds
#    8.5a6   10 seconds 
#
# Looks ok to me
#


puts $tcl_patchLevel

proc get_countries {} {
    set countries {}
    for {set i 0} {$i < 800} {incr i} {
	set x [clock clicks]_[clock seconds]
	lappend countries alphabetica_$x
    }
    return $countries
}

set body {
    set countries {}
    for {set i 0} {$i<1000} {incr i} {
	set x [get_countries]
	foreach el $x {lappend countries $el}
    }
}

set time [lindex [time $body] 0]
puts "**elapsed [expr {$time/1000000}] seconds**"