docs: def decoded(text, encoding=DEFAULT_ENCODING):
      """
      Attempts to decode the inputted unicode/string variable using the
      given encoding type.  If no encoding is provided, then it will attempt
      to use one of the ones available from the default list.
      
      :param      text     | <variant>
                  encoding | <str> || None
      
      :return     <unicode>
      """
      # unicode has already been decoded
      if type(text) == unicode_type:
          return text
  
      elif type(text) != bytes_type:
          try:
              return unicode_type(text)
          except StandardError:
              try:
                  text = bytes_type(text)
              except StandardError:
                  msg = u'<< projex.text.decoded: unable to decode ({0})>>'
                  return msg.format(repr(text))
  
      if encoding:
          try:
              return text.decode(encoding)
          except StandardError:
              pass
  
      for enc in SUPPORTED_ENCODINGS:
          try:
              return text.decode(enc)
          except StandardError:
              pass
  
      return u'????'