def isstr(obj):
    try:
        return isinstance(obj, basestring)
    except NameError:
        return isinstance(obj, str)
@todo: docstring
dataset/ETHPy150Open gallantlab/pycortex/cortex/xfm.py/isstr--crossover with--dataset/ETHPy150Open sahana/eden/modules/s3db/survey.py/survey_LayoutBlocks.growBy