code: function format (base)
  {
      "use strict";
      // if base undefined or null, return empty string
      if ((base === undefined) || (base === null)) {
          return ("");
      }
  
      // for each argument after base, replace in base string
      var result = base;
      for (var ctr = 1; ctr < arguments.length; ctr ++) {
          result = result.replace ("{" + (ctr - 1) + "}", arguments[ctr]);
      }
  
      return (result);
  }
docs: Accept a base string with substitution markers and additional parameters
  containing text to substitute into the base string. Markers use the syntax
  {#} where # is a zero based index for the parameter ({0}, {1}, ...).
  
  @example
  // returns "Syntax error on line 101: Missing ')'"
  format ("Syntax error on line {0}: Missing '{1}'", "101", ")");
  
  @param {string} base Base string to substitute into
  @param {...string} Substitution strings
  @returns {string} Populated string