def rake_input(rake_arg)
      params = {}
      rake_arg.each do |key, val| 
        params[key] = val
      end
      # by default, use human logging if a logger is enabled.
      params[:logger] = Logger.new(STDOUT) unless params.key?(:logger)
      params[:log_format] = :human unless params.key?(:log_format)
      
      return params
    end
def rake_input(rake_arg)
      params = {}
      rake_arg.each do |key, val| 
        params[key] = val
      end
      # by default, use human logging if a logger is enabled.
      params[:logger] = Logger.new(STDOUT) unless params.key?(:logger)
      params[:log_format] = :human unless params.key?(:log_format)
      
      return params
    end
convert rake task arguments to a standard hash.