column height = 100% - help!

[jaguide01]

http://testlaunch.com
Trying to get the left column to auto-stretch to the top edge of the footer, tried numerous methods and am stumped, please help.
Thanks in advance

[ray326]

http://www.alistapart.com/articles/fauxcolumns/

[jaguide01]

Unbelievable - It actually works! Putting the BG img in the body instead of the column doesn't quite make sense to me but whatever.
Thanks.