Randy Kramer wrote:
> What is the significance to the # in String#delete! and String#[]= above?  (I 
> can't find anything with the # in it like that in "Ruby In a Nutshell"--is it 
> something new, or just some shorthand/jargon?  (Or did I look in the wrong 
> places ;-)
>

It is simply a notational convention for identifying instance methods. 
Since it is not real Ruby syntax it can be misleading, but its usage is 
so widespread it's probably here to stay.