(function($) {
	$.truncate = function(str, maxChars, byWord) {
		if (str.length <= maxChars) {
			return str;
		}
	 
		var maxLen = maxChars - 3;
		var trimAt;
		
		if (byWord === true) {
			trimAt = str.lastIndexOf(" ", maxLen);
		} else {
			trimAt = maxLen;
		}
		
		if (trimAt == -1 || trimAt < maxChars / 2) {
			trimAt = maxLen;
		}
		
		return str.substr(0, trimAt) + "...";
	};
})(jQuery);