code: def parse_date(dateString):
      '''Parses a variety of date formats into a 9-tuple in GMT'''
      if not dateString:
          return None
      for handler in _date_handlers:
          try:
              date9tuple = handler(dateString)
          except (KeyError, OverflowError, ValueError):
              continue
          if not date9tuple:
              continue
          if len(date9tuple) != 9:
              continue
          return date9tuple
      return Nonf parse_date(dateString):
      '''Parses a variety of date formats into a 9-tuple in GMT'''
      if not dateString:
          return None
      for handler in _date_handlers:
          try:
              date9tuple = handler(dateString)
          except (KeyError, OverflowError, ValueError):
              continue
          if not date9tuple:
              continue
          if len(date9tuple) != 9:
              continue
          return date9tuple
      return None
docs: Parses a variety of date formats into a 9-tuple in GMT