def _parse_date(self):
     #TODO: Check if Date Object, and other Formats
     date = self.date
     offset = self.offset
     if type(date) == types.StringType:
         offset = date[-6:]
         # if offset is of correct format
         # initiate variables in class
         if zone._match_offset(offset) is True:
             self.date = date[:-6]
             self.offset = offset
    '''parse date and get offset information'''
    def _parse_date(self):
        #TODO: Check if Date Object, and other Formats
        date = self.date
        offset = self.offset
        if type(date) == types.StringType:
            offset = date[-6:]
            # if offset is of correct format
            # initiate variables in class
            if zone._match_offset(offset) is True:
                self.date = date[:-6]
                self.offset = offset

#Test
if (__name__ == '__main__') :
    print
    print "-- time_coordinator.py"
    TC = TimeCoordinator('2011-10-05 09:02:55-07:00')
    print "Date: " + str(TC.date)
    print "Offset: " + str(TC.offset)
    print zone._match_offset(TC.offset)
    print TC.convert_date_to_local()
    print "--"
    TC = TimeCoordinator('2011-10-12 22:30:54')
    print "Date: " + str(TC.date)
    print "Offset: " + str(TC.offset)
    print zone._match_offset(TC.offset)
    print TC.convert_date_to_local()
    print "--"