# File lib/camping-abingo.rb, line 452
  def self.parse_alternatives(alternatives)
    if alternatives.kind_of? Array
      return alternatives
    elsif alternatives.kind_of? Integer
      return (1..alternatives).to_a
    elsif alternatives.kind_of? Range
      return alternatives.to_a
    elsif alternatives.kind_of? Hash
      alternatives_array = []
      alternatives.each do |key, value|
        if value.kind_of? Integer
          alternatives_array += [key] * value
        else
          raise "You gave a hash with #{key} => #{value} as an element.  The value must be an integral weight."
        end
      end
      return alternatives_array
    else
      raise "I don't know how to turn [#{alternatives}] into an array of alternatives."
    end
  end