def pythonize(val):
     if isinstance(val, bool):
         return val
     val = unique_value(val).lower()
     if val in _boolean_states.keys():
         return _boolean_states[val]
     else:
         raise PythonizeError("Cannot convert '%s' to a boolean value" % val)

    def pythonize(self, val):
        val = unique_value(val)
        #import traceback; traceback.print_stack()
        def split(kv):
            m = re.match("^\s*([^\s]+)\s*=\s*([^\s]+)\s*$", kv)
            if m is None:
                raise ValueError

            return (
                m.group(1),
                # >2.4 only. we keep it for later. m.group(2) if self.elts_prop is None else self.elts_prop.pythonize(m.group(2))
                (self.elts_prop.pythonize(m.group(2)), m.group(2))[self.elts_prop is None]
            )

        if val is None:
            return(dict())

        # val is in the form "key1=addr:[port],key2=addr:[port],..."
        print ">>>", dict([split(kv) for kv in to_split(val)])
        return dict([split(kv) for kv in to_split(val)])