protected function active(array $nav)
    {
        // check if each item is active
        foreach ($nav as $key => $value) {
            // check if it is local
            if (isset($value['slug'])) {
                // if the request starts with the slug
                if ($this->request->is($value['slug']) || $this->request->is($value['slug'].'/*')) {
                    // then the navigation item is active, or selected
                    $nav[$key]['active'] = true;
                } else {
                    // then the navigation item is not active or selected
                    $nav[$key]['active'] = false;
                }
            } else {
                // then the navigation item is not active or selected
                $nav[$key]['active'] = false;
            }
        }

        // spit out the nav bar array at the end
        return $nav;
    }