def format_txt_desc(node):
	"""
	Formats a XML node into a plain text format.
	"""

	desc_buf = ''
	for desc in node.childNodes:
		if desc.nodeName == "#text":
			desc_buf += desc.data + "\n"
		elif desc.nodeName == "p":
			desc_buf += desc.firstChild.data + "\n"
			for chld in desc.childNodes: 
				if chld.nodeName == "ul":
					desc_buf += "\n"
					for li in chld.getElementsByTagName("li"):
						desc_buf += "\t -" + li.firstChild.data + "\n"

	return desc_buf.strip() + "\n"