code: public static Long getTime(String date, String pattern, String... patterns) {
  		Date d = parse(date, pattern, patterns);
  		return d == null ? null : d.getTime();
  	}
docs: Parse date using given pattern and return time value.
  Note that this method will return null if pattern is not
  valid or throws a {@link ParseException}.
  
  @param date Date.
  @param pattern Pattern.
  @param patterns Other pattern to test.
  @return Time value, null if pattern is not valid.