string conversions

>>> print "Before %s After" % 7
Before 7 After

>>> print "Before %x After" % 15
Before f After

>>> print "Foo %04d Bar" % 3*3
Foo 0009 Bar

text area tag in rails

<%= text_area_tag(:message, nil, :size => "44x6") %>

jquery show, hide

http://docs.jquery.com/Downloading_jQuery#Current_Release

current version of jquery can be downloaded here.