var $j = jQuery.noConflict();

function makeCounter(thedate){
	var newYear = new Date(); 
    newYear = new Date(thedate);
    $j("#sb-countdown").countdown({
		until: newYear,
		layout: '<div id="countdown-nums"><div>{dn}{sep}<br /><span>days</span></div><div>{hnn}{sep}<br /><span>hrs</span></div><div>{mnn}{sep}<br /><span>mins</span></div><div>{snn}<br /><span>secs</span></div></div>',
		format: 'DHMS',
		timeSeparator: ':'
	}); 
}