How can I create a dict that sets a flag if it's been modified

[Paul Rubin]

Brian van den Broek <broek at cc.umanitoba.ca> writes:
> It's broken in at least one way:
> 
>  >>> newmd = ModFlagDict(3=4, 1=5)
> SyntaxError: keyword can't be an expression

newmd = ModFlagDict(**{3:4, 1:5})