Hi guys, thanks so much for all the responses. Some of these answers are on the right track, so I appreciate the help. So here's a couple things to note:
vivojack: I do need to use the (true) parameter in the jQuery.noConflict call because we are using jQuery inside of a Javascript widget that other people can put onto their websites, and I can't assume that they won't have a different version of jQuery installed. Hence the entire namespacing issue in the 1st place.
whitefrog: The order doesn't seem to make any difference, just FYI.
frisbian: You are on the right track. It is definitely a jQuery load timing issue. Based on your response I was able to do some further testing and determine in regards to IE *specifically* when loading javascript from inside of other javascript (odd, I know, but that's how widgets work :P) the execution of one line isn't dependent on the completion of the execution of the previous line, like it is when you are loading javascript normally on the HTML page. I know that is a confusing explanation, but this is what I mean. Try this:
<html>
<body>
<div id="update_me"></div>
<script src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.healcode.com/javascripts/jquery.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">hcjq = jQuery.noConflict(true); hcjq("#update_me").html("hi.");</script>
</body>
</html>
The above code works great in IE, as well as all other browsers.
But now try this:
<html>
<body>
<div id="update_me"></div>
<script type="text/javascript">
document.write("<script src=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/assets.healcode.com\/javascripts\/jquery.js\"><\/script>");
document.write("<script type=\"text\/javascript\">hcjq = jQuery.noConflict(true); hcjq(\"#update_me\").html(\"hi.\");<\/script>");
</script>
</body>
</html>
Notice in the 2nd case, it doesn't work in IE. Unfortunately the 2nd way is the way we have to load our widget code. This more accurately describes the problem I'm trying to fix.
If you have any ideas on this one, please let me know.
Cheers,
ajit