// loads the specified page
function loadPage(url)
{
    if (url.length != 0)
    {
        window.location.href = url;
    }
}

function goSearch(searchBox, defaultText)
{
    return (document.getElementById(searchBox).value != '' && 
            document.getElementById(searchBox).value != defaultText)
}

function blankSearch(searchBox, defaultText)
{
    if (searchBox.value == defaultText)
    {
        searchBox.value = '';
    }
}