// make sure the $ is pointing to JQuery and not some other library
(function($){
	// add a new method to JQuery

	$.fn.equalHeight = function() {
		// find the tallest height in the collection
		// that was passed in (.column)
		lowest = tallest = 0;
		adjust = 10; // Just to make it look a little neater (plus for some reason the footer stomps on the highest column
		this.each(function() {
			thisHeight = $(this).height();
			thisOffset = $(this).offset();
			if (thisOffset.top && thisHeight > tallest)
				tallest = thisHeight;
			if (thisOffset.top > lowest)
				lowest = thisOffset.top;
		});

		// set each items height to use the tallest value found
		this.each(function() {
			thisOffset = $(this).offset();
			$(this).height(lowest-thisOffset.top+tallest+adjust);
		});
	}
})(jQuery);