code: def get_attributes(self, domain_or_name, item_name, attribute_names=None,
                         consistent_read=False, item=None):
          
          domain, domain_name = self.get_domain_and_name(domain_or_name)
          params = {'DomainName' : domain_name,
                    'ItemName' : item_name}
          if consistent_read:
              params['ConsistentRead'] = 'true'
          if attribute_names:
              if not isinstance(attribute_names, list):
                  attribute_names = [attribute_names]
              self.build_list_params(params, attribute_names, 'AttributeName')
          response = self.make_request('GetAttributes', params)
          body = response.read()
          if response.status == 200:
              if item == None:
                  item = self.item_cls(domain, item_name)
              h = handler.XmlHandler(item, self)
              xml.sax.parseString(body, h)
              return item
          else:
              raise SDBResponseError(response.status, response.reason, body)
docs: Retrieve attributes for a given item in a domain.
  
          :type domain_or_name: string or :class:`boto.sdb.domain.Domain` object.
          :param domain_or_name: Either the name of a domain or a Domain object
  
          :type item_name: string
          :param item_name: The name of the item whose attributes are 
              being retrieved.
  
          :type attribute_names: string or list of strings
          :param attribute_names: An attribute name or list of attribute names.
              This parameter is optional.  If not supplied, all attributes will 
              be retrieved for the item.
  
          :type consistent_read: bool
          :param consistent_read: When set to true, ensures that the most recent
              data is returned.
                                  
          :type item: :class:`boto.sdb.item.Item`
          :keyword item: Instead of instantiating a new Item object, you may
              specify one to update.
  
          :rtype: :class:`boto.sdb.item.Item`
          :return: An Item with the requested attribute name/values set on it