Implementing what a static jQuery pubsub might look like even though everyone hates the idea.

jquery.pubsub.js

 /*
  usage:
  
  $.bind('customEvt', function( event ){ 
    console.log( event );
  });
  
  $.trigger('customEvt');
  
 */

;(function ($) {

  $.bind = function( type, data, fn ){

    if ( arguments.length === 2 || data === false ) {
        fn = data;
        data = undefined;
    }
  
    jQuery.event.add( document, type, fn, data );

  };

  $.trigger = jQuery.event.trigger;

})( jQuery );

I realize that $.bind and e.data clobber native properties (of function and message event respectively) which is probably bad, but that's another story. If it becomes clear that a built in pub sub is a good idea, then we can work out the semantics later. $.on, or something (which is not very jQuery :( ).

$.bind === Function.prototype.bind; // true get it? its not "just a property" its a fundamental jQuery-will-not-do-it deal breaker.

Additionally, your most recent example is not handling custom data correctly, See: http://jsfiddle.net/rwaldron/jEU3w/

"not very jQuery"? What then, would be "jQuery" enough for you?

As for "overloads", the whole point of the 1.7 events re-write is to stop doing major overloads and create straight forward behaviours that are both backwards compatible and future proof.