JQuery - Widget Public Methods

Question

If I create a JQuery widget (code example below), and then define a \"public\" method, is there any other way to call the method other than using the following form?

Answer 1

Slightly off-topic, I know, but you may want to look at jquery Entwine.

This provides a form of inheritance and polymorphism which allows some clever behaviour with simple code. It sounds like this would do what you are trying to do.