gistfile1.js

// Boilerplate code to make the above work
var readyDef = new $.Deferred();
var readyP = readyDef.promise();
$(function(){ readyDef.resolve() }); 


$.when($.get('rss.xml'), readyP).then(function(rss){
    // second argument purposefully ignored since I only care about synchronization

    // build a document fragment
    // append to the document
}); 


// Some students did:
$(function(){
    var rssP = $.get('rss.xml') rssP.then(function(rss){
        // build fragment
        // append to DOM
    });
}); 
/* Works as well, but the request isn't done until the document is
** ready which may be as late as the load event in old browsers
*/