title: Python Create unix timestamp five minutes in the future
body: <p>I have to create an "Expires" value 5 minutes in the future, but I have to supply it in UNIX Timestamp format.  I have this so far, but it seems like a hack.</p>
  
  <pre><code>def expires():
      '''return a UNIX style timestamp representing 5 minutes from now'''
      epoch = datetime.datetime(1970, 1, 1)
      seconds_in_a_day = 60 * 60 * 24
      five_minutes = datetime.timedelta(seconds=5*60)
      five_minutes_from_now = datetime.datetime.now() + five_minutes
      since_epoch = five_minutes_from_now - epoch
      return since_epoch.days * seconds_in_a_day + since_epoch.seconds
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Is there a module or function that does the timestamp conversion for me?</p>