gistfile1.py

base_query = Casualty.safe_objects.all()

def build_chart(base_query, field_name, order_by):
    '''
    This is a function to make building our charts a little DRYer. Beats the pants off of lambdas.
    '''
    return base_query.values(field_name).annotate(Count(field_name)).order_by(order_by)
    
extra_context_dict = {
    'theater_chart':build_chart(base_query, 'theater__name', '-theater__name__count'),
    'branch_chart':build_chart(base_query, 'military_service_branch__name', '-military_service_branch__name__count'),
    'year_chart':build_chart(base_query, 'death_date_year', '-death_date_year'),
    'sex_chart':build_chart(base_query, 'sex', '-sex__count'),
    'age_chart':build_chart(base_query, 'age_range', '-age_range__count'),
    'cause_chart':build_chart(base_query, 'cause_of_death__name', '-cause_of_death__name__count'),
    'total_count':base_query.count(),
    'now':datetime.datetime.now(),
    'timeline':base_query.values('death_date_year').annotate(Count('death_date_year')).order_by('-death_date_year'),
}

# Lots 'o inheritance below...