>>> try:
...     x = int("a lot")
... except items["error"] as e:
...     # Same as except ValueError as e
...     print("Couldn't convert")

>>> try: ... x=int("a lot") File "<stdin>", line 2 x=int("a lot")
         ^
IndentationError: expected an indented block

>>> items = {}
>>> items["error"] = ValueError
>>> try:
...     x = int("a lot")
... except items["error"] as e:
...     print "Couldn't convert"
...
Couldn't convert

>>> try:
...     x = int("a lot")
... except items["error"] as e:
...     print("Couldn't convert")