使用regex

import re
ZTon = ['one-- and preferably only one --obvious', " Hello World", 'Now is better than never.', 'Although never is often better than *right* now.']
pattern=r'(--|\*)(.*)\1'
l=[]
for line in ZTon:
    s=re.search(pattern,line)
    if s:l.append(s.group(2).strip())
print (l)
# ['and preferably only one', 'right']

对于像十二月这样的边缘案例 calendar.month_name 有13个元素

import calendar
import datetime
months=calendar.month_name[1:]
a=months[datetime.date.today().month % 12]
print(a)