title: python search replace using wildcards
body: <p>somewhat confused.. but trying to do a search/repace using wildcards</p>
  
  <p>if i have something like:</p>
  
  <pre><code> &lt;blah.... ssf  ff&gt;
   &lt;bl.... ssf     dfggg   ff&gt;
   &lt;b.... ssf      ghhjj fhf&gt;
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>and i want to replace all of the above strings with say, </p>
  
  <pre><code> &lt;hh  &gt;t
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>any thoughts/comments on how this can be accomplished?</p>
  
  <p>thanks</p>
  
  <p>update (thanks for the comments!)</p>
  
  <p>i'm missing something... </p>
  
  <p>my initial sample text are: </p>
  
  <pre><code>Soo Choi&lt;/span&gt;LONGEDITBOX"&gt;Apryl Berney 
  Soo Choi&lt;/span&gt;LONGEDITBOX"&gt;Joel Franks 
  Joel Franks&lt;/span&gt;GEDITBOX"&gt;Alexander Yamato 
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>and i'm trying to get </p>
  
  <pre><code>Soo Choi foo Apryl Berney 
  Soo Choi foo Joel Franks 
  Joel Franks foo Alexander Yamato 
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>i've tried derivations of </p>
  
  <pre><code>name=re.sub("&lt;/s[^&gt;]*\"&gt;"," foo ",name) 
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>but i'm missing something... </p>
  
  <p>thoughts...  thanks</p>