wouldn't it be cool if you could define custom literal representations for your
classes?
Proposition:

have a method return a regex container/context that ruby would match against 
garble that doesnt fall under any other category. the regular expression would
of
course yeild to a few constraints, a set of valid encapsilation/delimiting
characters, a sub-syntax, and have the groups passed (in order) to a custom
initializer:

class foo
     def literal_exp
          /^\*(*.?)\*/  #or whatever
     end
     def literal_init(s1)
          @value = s1
     end
     def to_s
          @value
     end
end
blah = *rawwww*
I haven't really thought it out, but it could work, might be slugish, or
impractical, but it would be cool!#*&(*@&#@!~!!!!