add comments and address other code review feedback
add comments and address other code review feedback

rvarshney/code-dot-org,pickettd/code-dot-org,rvarshney/code-dot-org,rvarshney/code-dot-org,rvarshney/code-dot-org,pickettd/code-dot-org,pickettd/code-dot-org,rvarshney/code-dot-org,pickettd/code-dot-org,rvarshney/code-dot-org,pickettd/code-dot-org,pickettd/code-dot-org,rvarshney/code-dot-org,pickettd/code-dot-org,rvarshney/code-dot-org,pickettd/code-dot-org