title: jQuery compare string to input value
body: <p>I am trying to do a string comparison like so in JQuery</p>
  
  <pre><code>$('#select_directory_type').on('change', function() {
       window.alert($(this).val()); // I can see the selection is "SOMETHING"
       if( "SOMETHING" === $(this).val() ){
           // Never gets executed even when the selection is "SOMETHING".
       } });
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Another question is, what is the difference between</p>
  
  <pre><code>$this.val()
  and 
  $(this).val()
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Thanks!</p>