function mngl_request_friend( mingle_url, user_id, friend_id, friend_requested_text )
{
  mngl_replace_id_with_loading_indicator('friend_request_button-' + friend_id);
  jQuery.ajax( {
    type: "POST",
    url: mingle_url,
    data: "controller=friends&action=friend_request&user_id=" + user_id + "&friend_id=" + friend_id,
    success: function(html) {
      jQuery("#friend_request_button-" + friend_id ).replaceWith( friend_requested_text );
    }
  });
}

function mngl_escape(message)
{
  // escape problematic characters -- don't escape utf8 chars
  return message.replace(/&/g,'%26').replace(/=/g,'%3D').replace(/ /g, '%20').replace(/\?/g, '%3F');
}

function mngl_post_to_board( mingle_url, owner_id, author_id, message, controller )
{  
  var mnglparams = jQuery('#mngl-board-post-button').attr('mnglparams');
  mngl_replace_id_with_loading_indicator('mngl-board-post-button');
  
  if(mnglparams==undefined)
  {
    mnglparams = '';
  }

  jQuery.ajax( {
    type: "POST",
    url: mingle_url,
    data: "controller=" + controller + "&action=post&owner_id=" + owner_id + "&author_id=" + author_id + "&message=" + mngl_escape(message) + mnglparams,
    success: function(html) {
      jQuery('.mngl-board').replaceWith('<div class="mngl-board">'+html+'</div>');
      mngl_load_growables();
    }
  });
}

function mngl_clear_status(user_id)
{
  mngl_replace_id_with_loading_indicator('mngl-clear-status-button');
  jQuery.ajax( {
    type: "POST",
    url: '