// Standard Ajax Request Object
var request = null;
try {
    request = new XMLHttpRequest();
} catch (trymicrosoft) {
    try {
        request = new ActiveXObject("Msxml2.XMLHTTP");
    } catch (othermicrosoft) {
        try {
            request = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
        } catch (failed) {
            request = null;
        }
    }
}
if (request == null)
    alert("Error creating request object!");

/* quick getElement reference */
function jQuery() 
{
	var elements = new Array();
	for (var i = 0; i < arguments.length; i++) {
		var element = arguments[i];
		if (typeof element == 'string')
			element = document.getElementById(element);
		if (arguments.length == 1)
			return element;
		elements.push(element);
	}
	return elements;
}