my $regex =qr{(?x)
    ^(\w*)?\s         #A comment
    (\w*)?\s          # an other 
    (\w*)?\s          # and again
    (?:([A-Z]*)\s)?   # all the way through
    (\d+)\*           # so that the homicidal psychopath
    (?:([0-9+]+)[>])? # who knows where you live
    ([0-9+]+)\s.      # and will have to maintain this code
    (\d*)             # will think well of you
    };