code: function parse(attribute){
    if(_.isString(attribute)){
      if(attribute.charAt(0) === "$"){
        //Don't actually parse JSONPath objects
        var obj = {}; 
        obj['_JSONPath'] = attribute;
        return obj;
      }
      else if(attribute.charAt(0) === "_"){
        var ar = attribute.split('.');
        var obj = {};
        obj[ar[0]] = ar[1];
        return obj;
      }else{
        return attribute;
      }
    }
    else {
      return attribute;
    }
  }
docs: returns an object from a period separated object ie "_object.foo" {_object: foo}