timeout.py

import signal

def signal_handler(signum, frame):
    raise Exception("Timed out!")

signal.signal(signal.SIGALRM, signal_handler)
signal.alarm(10)   # Ten seconds

try:
    long_function_call()
except Exception:
    print "Timed out!"

%s/catch/except/
;)

btw, it works ;)

nice!