Rails - Jul 2006 - webrick slows and crashes on thumbnail creation

ok here is my view code:

<%   for img in ary %>
<%= resize_image img.name %> # img.name= /homa/joe/pictureimg.jpg
 <%   end %>

here is my resize_image code in application_helper:

def resize_image(imgfile)
    pic = Magick::Image.read(imgfile).first
    thumb = pic.crop_resized(maxwidth, maxheight,
gravity=Magick::CenterGravity)
    thumb.write(imgfile+''thumb'')
end

What happens:
When "ary" contains 50 images to resize, it goes fast on the first 4
images
then the whole thing slows down and and the ruby proccess occupies like 50%
of CPU and 70% of memory and then after 15 pics webrick crashes complaning
about how the disk might be full although it`s not.
I think this is because it trys to create all thumbnails at the same time
which needs too much cpu and ram.
So my question is: is there any way to make the <%   for img in ary %>
loop
wait for the current image to be resized before starting the resize of the
next one?

thanx in advance

Pat
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