(function(jQuery) {

   /**
    * Shows an error message next to the given element
    * @param message The text of the error message
    */
   jQuery.fn.showError = function(message) {

      var
         jParent = this.parent(),
         errorMessage = jParent.addClass("hasError").find(".error");

      if (!errorMessage.length) {
         errorMessage = jQuery("<div class='error'></div>").hide().prependTo(jParent);
      }

      errorMessage
         .text(message)
         .show('fast');


   };


   /**
    * Hides any error message next to the given element
    */
   jQuery.fn.hideError = function() {

      this.parent()
         .removeClass("hasError")
         .find(".error")
         .hide('fast');

   }

})(jQuery);