function GetXmlHttpObject() {
	var xmlHttp = null;
	try {
		// Firefox, Opera 8.0+, Safari
		xmlHttp = new XMLHttpRequest();
	} catch (e) {
		// Internet Explorer
		try {
			xmlHttp = new ActiveXObject("Msxml2.XMLHTTP");
		} catch (e) {
			xmlHttp = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
		}
	}
	return xmlHttp;
}

function performXMLHttpRequest(url, callback, method,vars) 
{
	var xmlHttp = GetXmlHttpObject();
	var _callback = callback;
	var _method = method || "GET";
	var _vars = vars || null;
	xmlHttp.onreadystatechange=function()
	    {
	    if(xmlHttp.readyState==4)
	      {
	      	_callback(xmlHttp);
	      }
	    };
	xmlHttp.open(_method,url,true);
	xmlHttp.send(_vars);
}

function $(objId)
{
	return document.getElementById(objId);
}


/*
 * specific var s and methods
*/

function writeBio(rqst)
{
	var div = $('bio');
	div.innerHTML = rqst.responseText ;
}