// stop firefox from handling events, esp for dragging images

function cancel_event(event) {
	if (typeof event.preventDefault != "undefined") 
		event.preventDefault();
}




function request(callee, handle, post_data) {

	if (!post_data) post_data = null;

	var http_request = request_object();

	http_request.onreadystatechange = function() {
		if (http_request.readyState == 4 && http_request.status == 200 && handle) {
			handle(http_request.responseText);	
		}
	}

	http_request.open(post_data ? "POST" : "GET", callee, true);

	if (post_data) {
		http_request.setRequestHeader("Content-type", "application/x-www-form-urlencoded");
		http_request.setRequestHeader("Content-length", post_data.length);
		http_request.setRequestHeader("Connection", "close");
	}

	http_request.send(post_data);

	return http_request;
}



function request_object() {
	try { return new XMLHttpRequest(); } catch(e) {}
	try { return new ActiveXObject("Msxml2.XMLHTTP"); } catch (e) {}
	try { return new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP"); } catch (e) {}
	return null;
}