def val( val )
            return '' if val.to_s.match( /^\s+$/ )
            val = val.to_s.gsub( /"/, '' )
            return val
        end
def val( val )
            return '' if val.to_s.match( /^\s+$/ )
            val = val.to_s.gsub( /"/, '' )
            return val
        end
expects one argument: the value to scrub