1. Yes.

   # You might have to expand the sort. Exercise for the reader and all t
   +hat. :-)
   
   my @keys = sort { $labels{$a} cmp $labels{$b} } keys %labels;
   $q->checkbox_group(
       -name => 'dates',
       -values => \@keys,
       -labels => \%labels,
   );
   [download]

   You don't need to sort the labels, just the keys.
2. Yes. I don't have time right now to explain, but I'm sure someone else will.

------
We are the carpenters and bricklayers of the Information Age.

The idea is a little like C++ templates, except not quite so brain-meltingly complicated. -- TheDamian, Exegesis 6

Please remember that I'm crufty and crochety. All opinions are purely mine and all code is untested, unless otherwise specified.