var loaded = false;

function startLoading() {
	loaded = false;
	window.setTimeout('showLoadingImage()', 10);
}

function showLoadingImage() {
	var el = document.getElementById("loading_box");
	if (el && !loaded) {
		new Effect.Appear('loading_box');
	}
}

function stopLoading() {
	Element.hide('loading_box');
	loaded = true;
}