sub sort_records {

	my $sort_routine;
	($opt_g =~ /^t/i) ?	#flag setting sort order
		($sort_routine = \&sort_by_title) :
		($sort_routine = \&sort_by_date);
		
	foreach (@_) {  
		($_->{'cleandate'} = $_->{'date'}) =~ s/\D//g;
	}  	#do I need this?

	my @records =	map  { $_->[0] }
					sort $sort_routine
					map  { [ $_, $_->{'title'}, $_->{'cleandate'} ] } 
					 # or can I do it here?
				@_;
				
	return @records;
}