A before_filter is all you really need as that’s kinda what verify is anyway - a DSL for creating before_filters.
before_filter :protect_xhr_methods
def protect_xhr_methods
redirect_to :action=>“index” unless self.action_name.include?(“_xhr”) && request.xhr?
end
(I did not test this, and there’s a better way to test for _xhr in the action name, but I am really lazy right now 
)
Is that something close?
While this is currently true, things have changed in Rails 2.0, and that’s where I’ve been working a lot lately. Thank you for reminding of this.
In Rails 2.0 you’ll no longer need to worry about that, as redirecting or explicitly rendering will stop the filter execution. (Yay!)
/me watches his Rails books depreciate even faster than last time
Greg:
Just be glad you aren’t trying to follow the Agile book NOW, when Rails 2.0 is installed when you do a fresh installation I feel really sorry for any newbies right now.