gistfile1.txt

module ApplicationHelper

  def local_time(time)
    capture_haml do
      haml_tag :span, time.utc.to_s, :class => 'time'
    end
  end

  def local_date(time)
    capture_haml do
      haml_tag :span, time.to_time.utc.to_s, :class => 'date'
    end
  end
end

// global.js

  $('span.time').each(function(){
    utc_time = new Date($(this).html());
    $(this).replaceWith(utc_time.toLocaleTimeString());
  });

  $('span.date').each(function(){
    utc_time = new Date($(this).html());
    $(this).replaceWith(utc_time.toLocaleDateString());
  });

# example usage (haml)

  %td.created
    = local_date(ticket.created_at) 
    = local_time(ticket.created_at) 

# example output (generated html)

              <td class='created'>
                <span class='date'>Tue Oct 20 22:17:14 UTC 2009</span>
                <span class='time'>Tue Oct 20 22:17:14 UTC 2009</span>
              </td>

# example output (rendered)

              <td class="created">
                10/21/2009
                09:17:14
              </td>