sparta.py

import re

units = {
        'day': 'd',
        'hour': 'h',
        'minute': 'm',
        'second': 's',
        }

# Matches only valid data (I hope)
# String format substitution to improve flexibility
valid = re.compile(
    r"""\d+ %(day)s \s               # 1 or more days
        (1?\d | 2[0-3]) %(hour)s \s  # 0-19 or 20-23 hr
        [1-5]?\d %(minute)s \s       # 0-59 min
        [1-5]?\d %(second)s          # 0-59 sec"""
        % units, re.X)