(function($){

$.fn.useDefaultMessage = function(defaultMessage) {
    return this
            .focus(function(){ if ($(this).val() == defaultMessage) $(this).val(''); })
            .blur(function(){ if ($(this).val() == '') $(this).val(defaultMessage); })
            .val(defaultMessage);
}

$.fn.useTextCounter = function(max, counterElements) {
    function textCounter(field, countfield,	maxlimit) {
        if (field.value.length > maxlimit) // if the current length is more than allowed
          field.value =field.value.substring(0, maxlimit); // don't allow further input
        else {
            counterElements.val(maxlimit - field.value.length);
        }
      } // set the display field to remaining number

    return this
        .keyup(function(){ textCounter(this, counterElements, max); })
        .keydown(function(){ textCounter(this, counterElements, max); });
}
})(jQuery);