spinner.py

def countdown(n, times_called=[0]):
    print times_called[0], " ", n, " "
    times_called[0] += 1
    if n == 1:
        return times_called
    else:
        try:
            return countdown(n-1)
        except RuntimeError:
            print "\nexception at %s" % times_called[0]:
            return countdown(n-1)


print(countdown(1010))

output:

exception at 141739
141739   5  
141740   4  
141741   3  
141742   2  

exception at 141743
141743   2  

exception at 141744
141744   3  
141745   2  

exception at 141746
141746   2  

exception at 141747
141747   4  
141748   3  
141749   2  

exception at 141750
141750   2  

exception at 141751
141751   3  
141752   2  
...