jQuery.fn.tfcountdown = function(options) {
    var settings = jQuery.extend({
        maxLength: 50,
        leftChars: "Characters remaining"
    }, options);
    return this.each(function() {
        var instance = $(this);
        var length = settings.maxLength - $(this).val().length;
        $(this).after('<div class="countdown"><span>' + length + '</span>' + settings.leftChars + '</div>');
        check();
        $(this).bind("keydown keypress keyup", function(e) {
            check();
        });
        function check() {
            length = settings.maxLength - instance.val().length;
            if (instance.val().length > settings.maxLength) {
            //    length = 0;
                instance.next(".countdown").find("span").addClass("red");
            } else {
                instance.next(".countdown").find("span").removeClass("red");
            }
            instance.next(".countdown").find("span").html(length);
        }
    });
};