Python 2.2b2 (#26, Nov 16 2001, 11:44:11) [MSC 32 bit (Intel)] on win32 Type "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information. IDLE 0.8 -- press F1 for help >>> def f(): return [1,2,3] >>> f() [1, 2, 3] >>> f().append(4) >>> l=f().append(4) >>> l >>> Obviously I can fix this, but I'm wondering why it doesn't work the way I expected it to? C//