/**
   * This takes the place of the crappy alert box in
   * most browsers
   */
  
  function alert_box(thestring)
  {
    $("#message_text").remove();
    $(".dialog_box").append("<p id='message_text'>" + thestring + "</p>");
    $(".dialog_box").show();
  }
  
  $(document).ready(function(){
    $(".dialog_close").click(function(){
        $(".dialog_box").hide();
        $("#message_text").remove();
    });
  
  });