$(function() {
        		
		if (typeof window.VH == "undefined" || !window.VH) {
			window.VH = {};
		}
		
		if (typeof VH.UTIL == "undefined" || !VH.UTIL )	{
			 VH.UTIL = {};
		}
		
		/***
        * Object that has useful utility functions
        */
		       
        VH.UTIL = function() {

            var debug = false;
            var hasConsole = false;

            var log = function() {

                if (!debug) {
                    return;
                }
                try {
                    // firefox
                    window.loadFirebugConsole();
                    if (debug) {
                        console.log.apply(this, arguments);
                    }
                }
                catch (error) {
                    // everything else
                    if (!$("#log").length) {
                        $("body").append('<div id="log"></div>');
                        $("#log").css({
                            "z-index": "9999",
                            "border": "3px solid #C00",
                            "position": "absolute",
                            "bottom": "0",
                            "left": "0",
                            "overflow": "auto",
                            "width": "99%",
                            "height": "100px",
                            "font-size": "0.9em",
                            "text-align": "left",
                            "background-color": "#FFF"
                        });
                    }
                    $("#log").append(arguments[0] + "<br />");
                }

            };
			
			var isUndefinedOrNull = function(object) {
            	return typeof object == "undefined" || object === null || object === '';
        	};
			
			var disableDropdown = function ( dropdown , clearAndShowLoading ) {
				dropdown.attr("disabled", true);
				if (clearAndShowLoading) {
					dropdown.empty().append('<option value="-">Loading, please wait...</option>');
				}
			};
			
			var enableDropdown = function ( dropdown , optionElems ) {
				dropdown.attr("disabled", false);
				if (optionElems){
					dropdown.empty().append(optionElems);
				}
			};

            return {
                log: log,
				disableDropdown : disableDropdown,
				enableDropdown : enableDropdown,
				isUndefinedOrNull : isUndefinedOrNull
            };


        }();

});