shoving a footer to the bottom

below a 2-column layout. is there a non-JS way?

[httpwebwitch]

I have a few sites using a standard layout: header at the top, then two columns (menu on left, content on right), then a footer along the bottom.
Easy to do with a big table.

Now using CSS-P, I still want to throw that footer at the bottom below the 2 columns. Problem is, I never know which column will be longer (content is dynamic), and I want to position the footer below the longer of the two columns.

Here's the challenge: I do NOT want to put both columns in a container DIV. For optimization reasons, I have the columns separated in the source HTML.

On several sites I've solved the problem with a JS using the Math.max() function which is triggered onLoad and onResize.

in pseudo-code:
var a = height of col a;
var b = height of col b;
set top of foot at Math.max(a,b);

Is there a better way? maybe something using "float" and "clear"?

[moltar]

[webmasterworld.com...]

[httpwebwitch]

rock on.