to no longer insist that len(seq) be defined.
NEEDS DOC CHANGES.
This is meant to be a model for how other functions of this ilk (max,
filter, etc) can be generalized similarly. Feel encouraged to grab your
favorite and convert it!
Note some cute consequences:
list(file) == file.readlines() == list(file.xreadlines())
list(dict) == dict.keys()
list(dict.iteritems()) = dict.items()
list(xrange(i, j, k)) == range(i, j, k)