diff --git a/ui/medashare/mdb.py b/ui/medashare/mdb.py
index 937f244..a477d05 100644
--- a/ui/medashare/mdb.py
+++ b/ui/medashare/mdb.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import base64
 import copy
 import datetime
+import functools
 import itertools
 import json
 import unittest
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ class _TestJSONEncoder(unittest.TestCase):
 
 # XXX - add validation
 # XXX - how to add singletons
+@functools.total_ordering
 class MDBase(object):
 	'''This is a simple wrapper that turns a JSON object into a pythonesc
 	object where attribute accesses work.'''
@@ -170,6 +172,10 @@ class MDBase(object):
 
 		return self._obj
 
+	def __lt__(self, o):
+		return (self['type'], self['uuid'], self['modified']) < \
+		        (o['type'], o['uuid'], o['modified'])
+
 	def __eq__(self, o):
 		return self._obj == o