word_paste_cleaner.rb

  # get rid of weird characters from pasting from Word and stuff
  def cleanup(text)
    if text
      text.
        gsub(/&/, '&').
        gsub(/&[lr]?quot;/, '"').
        gsub(/'/, "'").
        gsub(/'/, "'").
        gsub(/>/, '>').
        gsub(/&lt;/, '<').
        gsub(/&nbsp;/, ' ').
        gsub(%r{</?[^>]+>}, '').
        gsub(/\*\s*\*/, '**').
        gsub(/\342\200\235/, '"').
        gsub(/\342\200\234/, '"').
        gsub(/\342\200\231/, "'").
        gsub(/\342\200\223/, " -- "). 
        gsub(/\342\200\224/, " -- "). 
        gsub(/\303\242/, "a").
        gsub(/\303\251/, "e").
        gsub(%r{/+\s*$}, '')
    else
      nil
    end
  end