Converts strings to hex codes in Ruby

str_2_hex.rb

class String
  def hexcode
    hash = 0
    self.each_byte do |chr|
      hash = chr + (( hash << 5 ) - hash )
    end
    code = ((hash>>24)&0xFF).to_s(16) + ((hash>>16)&0xFF).to_s(16) + ((hash>>8)&0xFF).to_s(16) + (hash&0xFF).to_s(16)
    return code[0..5]
  end
end

This is a direct ruby port of this JS code that purports to be a port from Java: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3426404/create-a-hexadecimal-colour-based-on-a-string-with-jquery-javascript