(*args)
call str or unicode depending on current mode
call str or unicode depending on current mode
call str or unicode depending on current mode
def xstr(*args):
    """call str or unicode depending on current mode"""
    if _use_unicode:
        return unicode(*args)
    else:
        return str(*args)
def xstr ( * args ) : if _use_unicode : return unicode ( * args ) else : return str ( * args )