# blank? methods for several different class types
class Object
  # Returns true if the object is nil or empty (if applicable)
  def blank?
    nil? || (respond_to?(:empty?) && empty?)
  end
end # class Object

class Numeric
  # Numerics can't be blank
  def blank?
    false
  end
end # class Numeric

class NilClass
  # Nils are always blank
  def blank?
    true
  end
end # class NilClass

class TrueClass
  # True is not blank.
  def blank?
    false
  end
end # class TrueClass

class FalseClass
  # False is always blank.
  def blank?
    true
  end
end # class FalseClass

class String
  # Strips out whitespace then tests if the string is empty.
  def blank?
    strip.empty?
  end
end # class String