chop.py

def chop(sliceable, columns):
    """Return multiple selected slices of an iterable, in desired order.
  
    Args:
        sliceable (list): the original list to chop up
        columns (list): a list of integers (indices) or tuples (slices)
        
    Returns:
        (list) the final chopped up list
    
    Examples:
        >>> test_row = ['zero', 'one', 'two', 'three', 'four', 'five']
        >>> chop(test_row, [0, 2, 4])
        ['zero', 'two', 'four']
        >>> chop(test_row, [(1, 3), 5])
        ['one', 'two', 'five']
    """
    slices = map(lambda x: slice(*x) if isinstance(x, tuple) else slice(x, x + 1), columns)
    chopped = [sliceable[c] for c in slices]
    return list(itertools.chain.from_iterable(chopped))