require 'date' module ToDatePatch module StringAndNil ::String.send(:include, self) ::NilClass.send(:include, self) def to_dateish return Date.today if blank? Date.parse self end end module DateAndTime ::Date.send(:include, self) ::Time.send(:include, self) def to_dateish self end def force_utc return to_time.force_utc unless respond_to? :utc_offset return self if utc? utc - utc_offset end end end