Are jQuery utility functions preferable to ordinary function definitions?
<p><a href="http://www.codeschool.com/courses/jquery-air-captains-log" rel="nofollow">This jQuery course</a> recommends defining your own jQuery utility functions as a good way to organise your code. </p>

<p>But it doesn't really explain why. So, why is writing code like: </p>

<pre><code>$.highlightResults = function(seats) {
  // 
}
$.highlightResults('/.seating-chart a');
</code></pre>

<p>preferable to simply:</p>

<pre><code>function highlightResults(seats) { 
 //
}
highlightResults('/.seating-chart a');
</code></pre>

<p>Is the course wrong, or is there a good reason to write it this way?</p>
