function $(id) {
    return document.getElementById(id);
  }
  function getXHRO() { //getXmlHttpRequestObject()
  	if (window.XMLHttpRequest)
  		return new XMLHttpRequest();
  	else if(window.ActiveXObject)
  		return new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
  	else
  		alert('Status: Cound not create XmlHttpRequest Object. Consider upgrading your browser.');
  }
  function httpPost(obj,handler,url,postString) {
    obj.open('POST', url, true);
    obj.onreadystatechange = handler; //for IE7 this NEEDS to be after open!!
    obj.setRequestHeader("Content-type", "application/x-www-form-urlencoded");
    obj.setRequestHeader("Content-length", postString.length);
    obj.setRequestHeader("Connection", "close");
    obj.send(postString);
  }
  function httpGet(obj,handler,url) {
    obj.open('GET', url, true);
    obj.onreadystatechange = handler; //for IE7 this NEEDS to be after open!!
    obj.setRequestHeader("Connection", "close");
    obj.send();
  }