function createRequestObject() {
    var ro;
    var browser = navigator.appName;
    if(browser == "Microsoft Internet Explorer"){
        ro = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
    }else{
        ro = new XMLHttpRequest();
    }
    return ro;
}

var http = createRequestObject();

function sndReq(action,username,category) {
	if(username == ''){
		username = 'undefined';
	}
	document.getElementById('storyHolder').innerHTML = "<div class='commentBlock'>Loading stories...</div>";
    http.open('get', 'liveRequest.php?action='+action+'&username='+username+'&category='+category);
    http.onreadystatechange = handleResponse;
    http.send(null);
}

function handleResponse() {
    if(http.readyState == 4){
        var response = http.responseText;
        var update = new Array();

        if(response.indexOf('|||||' != -1)) {
            update = response.split('|||||');
            document.getElementById(update[0]).innerHTML = update[1];
        }
    }
}