def pattern_escape *patterns
        escaped_patterns = []
        patterns.each do |pattern|
          if (pattern.is_a?(String))
            pattern = Regexp.new(Regexp.escape(pattern))
          elsif (! pattern.is_a?(Regexp))
            raise "Don't know how to match on a #{pattern.class}"
          end
          escaped_patterns.push(pattern)
        end
        escaped_patterns
      end
def pattern_escape *patterns
        escaped_patterns = []
        patterns.each do |pattern|
          if (pattern.is_a?(String))
            pattern = Regexp.new(Regexp.escape(pattern))
          elsif (! pattern.is_a?(Regexp))
            raise "Don't know how to match on a #{pattern.class}"
          end
          escaped_patterns.push(pattern)
        end
        escaped_patterns
      end
This method will convert any strings in the argument list to regular
 expressions that search for the literal string

 +patterns+::
   List of patterns to escape