I'm sure I broke a few things, but I want to clean up and reorganize a bit...
so, I know this works...
better function-based framework implemented for sorts...
hrrm, we're getting into that weird area where I've broken things and then not
re-fixed them...
added some decorators...
sigh, I may be wandering farther afield than intended...stay the course or
return to base?
implemented new, more coherent internal structure...

now, update test, blah, blah blah...
hmmm, I think I needed to fix how *args and **kwargs were handled to get keyword
parameter passing to select functions working. need to test.