parse_date.rb

  def parse_date(d)
    d.strip.gsub(/[^\d\/]/,"") =~ /(^[\d]{1,2}\/[\d]{1,2}\/[\d]{2}$)/
    if $1
      m, d, y = $1.split("/")
      if y.to_i <= 13
        y = "20#{y}"
      else
        y = "19#{y}"
      end
      Date.strptime("#{m}/#{d}/#{y}", "%m/%d/%Y")
    else
      nil
    end
  end