function createRequest() {
  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!");
  } else {
    return request;
  }
}

function $(name) {
	if (name.charAt(0) == '#') {
		id = name.substring(1)
		ob = document.getElementById(id)
		} else {
		ob = document.getElementsByName(name)
		}
	return ob;
}