function loadMap() {
  if (!GBrowserIsCompatible()) { // Show friendly msg if user's browser is not compatible
    var message = '<h2>Your browser is not supported by our Google Maps event viewer.</h2><p>We currently support the following browsers:</p><ul><li><a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/default.asp">IE</a> 5.5+ (Windows)</li><li><a href="http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/">Firefox</a> 0.8+ (Windows, Mac, Linux)</li><li><a href="http://browser.netscape.com/">Netscape</a> 7.1+ (Windows, Mac, Linux)</li><li><a href="http://www.mozilla.org/products/mozilla1.x/">Mozilla</a> 1.4+ (Windows, Mac, Linux)</li><li><a href="http://www.apple.com/safari/">Safari</a> 1.2+ (Mac)</li><li><a href="http://www.opera.com/">Opera</a> 7+ (Windows, Mac, Linux)</li></ul>';
    document.writeln (message);
    exit;
  }

  // Create marker icons
  var baseIcon = new GIcon();
  baseIcon.shadow = "icon_shadow.png";
  baseIcon.iconSize = new GSize(12, 20);
  baseIcon.shadowSize = new GSize(22, 20);
  baseIcon.iconAnchor = new GPoint(6, 20);
  baseIcon.infoWindowAnchor = new GPoint(5, 1);
    
  // Create Map and controls; set map extent
  var map = new GMap(document.getElementById("map"));
  map.addControl(new GSmallMapControl());
  map.centerAndZoom(new GPoint(-122.18, 37.65), 9);
  //map.setMapType(G_MAP_TYPE);
  
  // Create markers at given point
  function createMarker(point, html, icon_type, title_tip) {
    var marker = new GMarker(point, {icon:icon_type, draggable:false, title:title_tip});
    //var marker = new GMarker(point, icon_type);
    map.addOverlay(marker);
    GEvent.addListener(marker, "click", function() {
      marker.openInfoWindowHtml(html);
    });
  }
  
  // Get XML points file and display it
  var request = GXmlHttp.create();
  request.open("GET", "/lomaprieta/stories/xml_locations.php?id=" + sel_id, true);
  request.onreadystatechange = function() {
    if (request.readyState == 4) {
      var xmlDoc = request.responseXML;
      var markers = xmlDoc.documentElement.getElementsByTagName("marker");
      for (var i = 0; i < markers.length; i++) {
  
        var lat = parseFloat(markers[i].getAttribute("lat"));
        var lon = parseFloat(markers[i].getAttribute("lon"));
        var title = markers[i].getAttribute("name");
        var id = markers[i].getAttribute("id");
        var link = '<a href="/lomaprieta/stories/' + id + '/">Read story</a>';
        var status = markers[i].getAttribute("status");
        
        var description = link;
         
        info = '<div style=\"width:200px; height: 50px;\"><p><strong>' + title + '</strong><br />' + description + '</p></div>';            
        var icon = new GIcon(baseIcon);
        color = 'blue';
        if (status == 'selected') color = 'red';
        icon.image = "/images/map/icon_" + color + ".png";
        
        createMarker(new GPoint(lon, lat), info, icon, title);
      }
    }
  }
  request.send(null);  
}