def METHOD_NAME(str_op, lhs, rhs):
    """
        Internal function: evaluates the textual `str_op` comparison operator
        lhs <str_op> rhs
        Valid str_op's:
        * '=='
        * '!='
        * '>'
        * '>='
        * '<'
        * '<='
        Especially useful in decomposition and transformation functions that already involve a comparison.
    """
    if str_op == '==':
        return lhs == rhs
    elif str_op == '!=':
        return lhs != rhs
    elif str_op == '>':
        return lhs > rhs
    elif str_op == '>=':
        return lhs >= rhs
    elif str_op == '<':
        return lhs < rhs
    elif str_op == '<=':
        return lhs <= rhs
    else:
        raise Exception("Not a known comparison:", str_op)