string_extension_for_ruby1.8.rb

class String
  def remove_html_tags()
    self.gsub(/<.+?>/, "")
  end
  
  # clear unsafe char with url slug
  def safe_slug(spliter = '-')
    @slug = self
    if @slug.blank?
      Guid.new
      @slug = Guid.generate      
    end
    @slug.gsub(/[^a-zA-Z\-0-9]/,spliter).downcase  
  end
end

Ruby1.8.7 > "aaa".remove_html_tags()
Ruby1.8.7 > "aaa".safe_slug