jQuery.fn.updateCharCount = function(options) {
	  settings = jQuery.extend({
   			updateId: "update",
   			maxLength: 160
			  }, options);
	return this.each(function(){
		var elem = jQuery(this);
		var max = elem.attr("maxlength");
		if (!max) max = settings.maxLength;
		var status = jQuery("#" + settings.updateId);
		var updateCount = function(){
			if (elem.val().length > max) {
				elem.val(elem.val().substring(0, max));
			}
			status.text(max - elem.val().length);				
		};
		jQuery(this).keyup(updateCount).blur(updateCount);
		updateCount();			
	});
};