class String
  def strip_html!
    gsub!(/
    <
      \/?                 # optional end tag
      ([\w:-]+)           # tag name (capturing)
      (?:                 # optional attribute set (allowing even for end tags)
        (?:               # group for attribute repetition
          \s+             # mandatory space before first attribute
          [\w:-]+         # attribute name
          (?:             # optional attribute value
            \s*=\s*       # optionally space-wrapped equal sign
            (?:           # attribute value group (for |)
              '[^']*' |   # either a single quoted attribute   '#happy color coding
              "[^"]*" |   # or a double quoted attribute       "#happy color coding
              [^\s>]+     # or a non-space non tag end value
            )             # end attribute value group
          )?              # attr value is optional
        )*                # can have zero or more attributes 
      )?                  # may not have attributes at all
      \s*                 # optional trailing spaces
      \/?                 # optional self-closing empty tag 
    >                     # end tag
    /ix, '')
    self
  end
  
  def strip_html
    dup.strip_html!
  end
end