[ruby-core:42246] Fwd: RCR String#{last, first}

Hello.
I noticed that it is very easy to get the first few characters of
a String:

string[0..whatever]

however, it is "harder" to get the last few characters of a String

ex: to get the last 8 you have to do something like:

(string[-8..-1] || string)

Feature request/proposal:
String#last(n)
like

string.last(8)

and related
String#first(n)

Feedback welcome.  If none I'll file it on redmine with a patch.
-roger-