title: How to emulate keyword arguments in ActionScript 3 functions
body: <p>Functions in Python can be called using keyword arguments of the form keyword = value. For instance, the following function:</p>
  
  <pre><code>def parrot(voltage, state='a stiff', action='voom', type='Norwegian Blue'):
      print "-- This parrot wouldn't", action,
      print "if you put", voltage, "volts through it."
      print "-- Lovely plumage, the", type
      print "-- It's", state, "!"
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>could be called in any of the following ways:</p>
  
  <pre><code>parrot(1000)
      parrot(action = 'VOOOOOM', voltage = 1000000)
      parrot('a thousand', state = 'pushing up the daisies')
      parrot('a million', 'bereft of life', 'jump')
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>ActionScript 3 does not have this facility. How would I best emulate it?</p>