title: python split empty string
body: <p>Could someone explain this behaviour on python 2.7.8:</p>
  
  <pre><code>Python 2.7.8 (default, Nov 12 2014, 02:03:09)
  [GCC 4.8.2 20140120 (Red Hat 4.8.2-16)] on linux2
  Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
  &gt;&gt;&gt; a = ''
  &gt;&gt;&gt; a.split()
  []
  &gt;&gt;&gt; a.split('\n')
  ['']
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>split by any white space gives an empty list, but split by new line gives a list with an empty string. WHY?</p>
  
  <p>Thanks</p>