Argument parsing...

output.txt

Action: :new
Args: {:blah=>4}
-----
Action: nil
Args: {:blah=>3}
-----
Action: :foo
Args: {:errors=>4}
-----
Action: nil
Args: {:errors=>9}
-----

pull_args.rb

def foo(*args)
  meth = args.shift if args[1].respond_to?(:shift)
  meth ||= args[0].delete(:action)
  opts = args[0]
  
  puts "Action: " << meth.inspect
  puts "Args: " << opts.inspect
  puts "-----"
end

foo(:new, :blah => 4)
foo(:blah => 3)
foo(:action => :foo, :errors => 4)
foo(:errors => 9)