You probably want to use s/// instead of tr, as your annoyances have multiple characters. You can easily use something like s/\�\&.{3}//g to remove all instances of your blurb, with the only stipulation that you mind need to enter the numeric code for that first character instead of the character itself to have the perl engine deal with it right.

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Dr. Michael K. Neylon - mneylon-pm@masemware.com || "You've left the lens cap of your mind on again, Pinky" - The Brain