def get_attributes(self, domain_or_name, item_name, attribute_names=None,
                       consistent_read=False, item=None):
        """
        Retrieve attributes for a given item in a domain.

        :type domain_or_name: string or :class:`boto.sdb.domain.Domain` object.
        :param domain_or_name: Either the name of a domain or a Domain object

        :type item_name: string
        :param item_name: The name of the item whose attributes are 
            being retrieved.

        :type attribute_names: string or list of strings
        :param attribute_names: An attribute name or list of attribute names.
            This parameter is optional.  If not supplied, all attributes will 
            be retrieved for the item.

        :type consistent_read: bool
        :param consistent_read: When set to true, ensures that the most recent
            data is returned.
                                
        :type item: :class:`boto.sdb.item.Item`
        :keyword item: Instead of instantiating a new Item object, you may
            specify one to update.

        :rtype: :class:`boto.sdb.item.Item`
        :return: An Item with the requested attribute name/values set on it
        """
        domain, domain_name = self.get_domain_and_name(domain_or_name)
        params = {'DomainName' : domain_name,
                  'ItemName' : item_name}
        if consistent_read:
            params['ConsistentRead'] = 'true'
        if attribute_names:
            if not isinstance(attribute_names, list):
                attribute_names = [attribute_names]
            self.build_list_params(params, attribute_names, 'AttributeName')
        response = self.make_request('GetAttributes', params)
        body = response.read()
        if response.status == 200:
            if item == None:
                item = self.item_cls(domain, item_name)
            h = handler.XmlHandler(item, self)
            xml.sax.parseString(body, h)
            return item
        else:
            raise SDBResponseError(response.status, response.reason, body)
Retrieve attributes for a given item in a domain.

        :type domain_or_name: string or :class:`boto.sdb.domain.Domain` object.
        :param domain_or_name: Either the name of a domain or a Domain object

        :type item_name: string
        :param item_name: The name of the item whose attributes are 
            being retrieved.

        :type attribute_names: string or list of strings
        :param attribute_names: An attribute name or list of attribute names.
            This parameter is optional.  If not supplied, all attributes will 
            be retrieved for the item.

        :type consistent_read: bool
        :param consistent_read: When set to true, ensures that the most recent
            data is returned.
                                
        :type item: :class:`boto.sdb.item.Item`
        :keyword item: Instead of instantiating a new Item object, you may
            specify one to update.

        :rtype: :class:`boto.sdb.item.Item`
        :return: An Item with the requested attribute name/values set on it