columnconform.js

// these are (ruh-roh) globals. You could wrap in an
    // immediately-Invoked Function Expression (IIFE) if you wanted to...
    var currentTallest = 0,
        currentRowStart = 0,
        rowDivs = new Array();

    function setConformingHeight(el, newHeight) {
      // set the height to something new, but remember the original height in case things change
      el.data("originalHeight", (el.data("originalHeight") == undefined) ? (el.height()) : (el.data("originalHeight")));
      el.height(newHeight);
    }

    function getOriginalHeight(el) {
      // if the height has changed, send the originalHeight
      return (el.data("originalHeight") == undefined) ? (el.height()) : (el.data("originalHeight"));
    }

    function columnConform(elem) {
      // find the tallest DIV in the row, and set the heights of all of the DIVs to match it.
      jQuery(elem).each(function($) {
        // "caching"
        var $el = jQuery(this);

        var topPosition = $el.position().top;

        if (currentRowStart != topPosition) {

          // we just came to a new row.  Set all the heights on the completed row
          for(currentDiv = 0 ; currentDiv < rowDivs.length ; currentDiv++) setConformingHeight(rowDivs[currentDiv], currentTallest);

          // set the variables for the new row
          rowDivs.length = 0; // empty the array
          currentRowStart = topPosition;
          currentTallest = getOriginalHeight($el);
          rowDivs.push($el);

        } else {

          // another div on the current row.  Add it to the list and check if it's taller
          rowDivs.push($el);
          currentTallest = (currentTallest < getOriginalHeight($el)) ? (getOriginalHeight($el)) : (currentTallest);

        }
        // do the last row
        for (currentDiv = 0 ; currentDiv < rowDivs.length ; currentDiv++) setConformingHeight(rowDivs[currentDiv], currentTallest);

      });

    }