// questions, can I get XMLHttpRequest or not
function _upToSnuff(){
    var compatible=false;
    var alreadyTried=false;
    if(alreadyTried){return compatible;}
    alreadyTried=true;
    try{
	var xmlhttp = new XMLHttpRequest();
	if(!xmlhttp){ return false; }
    }catch(E){
	// should I wonder why?
	return false;
    }
    compatible=true;
    return true;
}
// and if the browser is up to snuff, here is a script to load more
// javascript
//
// taken from Google Maps.  I never knew what the heck it was for,
// until I started running my stuff on IE, and ran into lameness.  If
// one has a lame browser and that fact can be detected, then don't
// bother loading up the javascript for the application.
function _script(src) {
     var ret = '<' +
         'script src="' +
         src + '"' +
     ' type="text/javascript"><' + '/script>';
     document.write(ret);
}