var DEFAULT_ZOOM_LEVEL = 7;
var UNITED_STATES_LAT_LONG = new GLatLng(37.4419,-99.1419);
var	UNITED_STATES_ZOOM_LEVEL = 4;

function $(elementName){
  return document.getElementById(elementName);
}

String.prototype.trim = function () {
  return this.replace(/^\s*(\S*(\s+\S+)*)\s*$/, "$1");
};