module UtilHelper
    def truncate(string, max=20, delim=" ")
        parts = string.split(delim)
        parts.length > max ?
            parts[0..max].join(delim) + "..." : string
    end

    def make_some(string, backup=" ")
        string.strip().length > 0 ? string : backup
    end

    def text_segment(string, max=20, delim=" ")
        make_some(truncate(string.gsub(/<\/?[^>]*>/, ""), max, delim))
    end
end