old_contents: (function ($) {
    /*
    *
    * Fades flash notices out after they are shown
    *
    */
    $.fn.flashNotice = function () {
      $(this).fadeIn();
  
      if (!$(this).hasClass('alert')) {
        var element = $(this);
        var timeout = setTimeout(function () { element.fadeOut(); }, 3000);
      }
  
      $(this).click(function () {
        if (timeout) {
          clearTimeout(timeout);
        }
  
        $(this).fadeOut();
      });
    }
  
    $.fn.showNotice = function (message) {
      $(this).html("<p class='flash notice'>"+message+"</p>")
      $(".notice", this).flashNotice();
    }
  
    $.fn.showAlert = function (message) {
      $(this).html("<p class='flash alert'>"+message+"</p>")
      $(".alert", this).flashNotice();
    }
  
  })(jQuery);
new_contents: (function ($) {
    /*
    *
    * Fades flash notices out after they are shown
    *
    */
    $.fn.flashNotice = function () {
      $(this).fadeIn();
  
      if (!$(this).hasClass('alert')) {
        var element = $(this);
        var timeout = setTimeout(function () { element.fadeOut(); }, 3000);
      }
  
      $(this).css('cursor', 'pointer').click(function () {
        if (timeout) {
          clearTimeout(timeout);
        }
  
        $(this).fadeOut();
      });
    }
  
    $.fn.showNotice = function (message) {
      $(this).html("<p class='flash notice'>"+message+"</p>")
      $(".notice", this).flashNotice();
    }
  
    $.fn.showAlert = function (message) {
      $(this).html("<p class='flash alert'>"+message+"</p>")
      $(".alert", this).flashNotice();
    }
  
  })(jQuery);
subject: Make click-to-hide-notices feature more obvious