function $() {
    var elements = new Array();
    for (var i = 0; i < arguments.length; i++) {
	    var element = arguments[i];
        if (typeof element == 'string') element = document.getElementById(element);
        if (arguments.length == 1) return element;
        elements.push(element);
    }
    return elements;
}
document.getElementsByClassName = function(className) {
    var children = document.getElementsByTagName('*') || document.all;
    var elements = new Array();
    for (var i = 0; i < children.length; i++) {
	    var child = children[i];
	    var classNames = child.className.split(' ');
        for (var j = 0; j < classNames.length; j++) {
	        if (classNames[j] == className) {
		        elements.push(child);
		        break;
	        }
	    }
    }
    return elements;
}
document.remove = function(element) {
    element = $(element);
    element.parentNode.removeChild(element);
}
function flash(text) {
    var f = document.getElementById('flash');
    f.style.display = 'block';
    f.innerHTML = text;
    FadeColor('flash', '#ffff00', '#ffffff', 1000);
}