jQuery.fn.charCount = function(params){
var p = {
counterElement:"display_count"
};
var count;
 
if(params) {
jQuery.extend(p, params);
}
 
//for each keypress function on text areas
this.keyup(function()
{
count=this.value.length;
jQuery('#'+p.counterElement).html(count);
});
this.blur(function()
{
jQuery(this).keypress();
});
this.focus(function()
{
jQuery(this).keypress();
});
};