2007-07-27, 17:47(+00), kj:
[...]
> I have the following in my .zshenv:
>
> export loc=$HOME/local
> export bin=$loc/bin
[...]
> % cd ~bin
> % pwd
> /bin
>
> Does anyone understand why "cd ~bin" takes me to /bin and not to
> /home/jones/local/bin (i.e. the directory named in $bin)?
[...]

Many systems have a user called "bin".
cd ~bin
takes you to that user's home directory.

--
Stéphane