/*
 * initialize a text input field with a default value.
 */
function init_field(field_id, default_value) {
  var field = document.getElementById(field_id);
  if(field.value == ''
     || field.value == null
     || field.value == default_value ) {
    field.value = default_value;
    field.className = 'faint';
  }
  field.onfocus = function() {
    if(field.value == default_value) {
      this.value = '';
      this.className = 'normal';
    }
  }
  field.onblur = function() {
    if(field.value == '') {
      this.value = default_value;
      this.className = 'faint';
    }
  }
}

(function($) {
    $.extend({
        doGet: function(url, params) {
            document.location = url + '?' + $.param(params);
        },
        doPost: function(url, params) {
            var $form = $("<form method='POST'>").attr("action", url);
            $.each(params, function(name, value) {
                $("<input type='hidden'>")
                    .attr("name", name)
                    .attr("value", value)
                    .appendTo($form);
            });
            $form.appendTo("body");
            $form.submit();
        }
    });
})(jQuery);