def set state, item_first=-1, item_last=-1, param_string=nil
      @state, @item_first, @item_last, @param_string =
        state, item_first, item_last, param_string 
      @param_string = "Item event fired: #{item}, #{state}" if param_string.nil?
    end
def set state, item_first=-1, item_last=-1, param_string=nil
      @state, @item_first, @item_last, @param_string =
        state, item_first, item_last, param_string 
      @param_string = "Item event fired: #{item}, #{state}" if param_string.nil?
    end
for debugging etc
=begin
    def initialize item, item_selectable, state, item_first=-1, item_last=-1, paramstring=nil
      @item, @item_selectable, @state, @item_first, @item_last =
        item, item_selectable, state, item_first, item_last 
      @param_string = "Item event fired: #{item}, #{state}"
    end
=end
 i think only one is needed per object, so create once only