code: def count_the_same(iterable, sentinel):
      
      count = 0
      x = None
      for count, x in enumerate(iterable):
          if x != sentinel:
              break
      return count, x
docs: >>> count_the_same([0x55,0x55,0x55,0x55,0x3C,"foo","bar"],0x55)
      (4, 60)
      >>> 0x3C == 60
      True