application_helper.rb

module ApplicationHelper

  # Only things with theoretically near universal potential use should go here.

  def thumbnail_for(core_record) 
    if core_record.thumbnail 
      return core_record.thumbnail 
    else
      return core_record.canonical.class.to_s
    end
  end

  # Generates an array of link/li tags that should breadcrumb back to the Root Collection  
  def breadcrumb_to_root(set, breadcrumb = [])    
    if breadcrumb.empty? 
      breadcrumb << content_tag(:li, set.title, class: 'active')  
      if current_user.can? :edit, set
        # Want to add a new breadcrump to add a collection or upload here
      end
    end

    if set.parent.nil?
      return breadcrumb.reverse
    else
      # This is a giant kludge, for some reason neu:1 gets an id param tacked on if done the regular way
      if set.parent.id.eql?('neu:1')
        breadcrumb << content_tag(:li, link_to(set.parent.title, community_path(set.parent.identifier)))
      else  
        breadcrumb << content_tag(:li, link_to(set.parent.title, set.parent))
      end
      breadcrumb_to_root(set.parent, breadcrumb)
    end
  end  
end

<li>
              <a href="#" id="addToSet" data-pid="neu:1" data-original-title="" title=""><i class="icon-plus-sign-alt"></i> Add</a><div class="popover fade right in" style="top: 115px; left: 499.5px; display: block;"><div class="arrow"></div><h3 class="popover-title"></h3><div class="popover-content">

          <a href="/collections/new?department_parent=neu%3A1" class="btn btn-mini">New Collection</a>
          <a href="/departments/new?department_parent=neu%3A1" class="btn btn-mini">New Department</a>
        </div></div>
            </li>