function loadMap () {
    if (GBrowserIsCompatible()) {
      // this variable will collect the html which will eventualkly be placed in the side_bar
      var side_bar_html = "";
    
      // arrays to hold copies of the markers and html used by the side_bar
      // because the function closure trick doesnt work there
      var gmarkers = [];
      var htmls = [];
      var i = 0;


      // A function to create the marker and set up the event window
      function createMarker(point,name,html,icon) {
        var marker = new GMarker(point, icon);
        GEvent.addListener(marker, "click", function() {
          marker.openInfoWindowHtml(html);
        });
        // save the info we need to use later for the side_bar
        gmarkers[i] = marker;
        htmls[i] = html;
        // add a line to the side_bar html
        side_bar_html += '<a href="javascript:myclick(' + i + ')">' + name + '<\/a><br>';
        i++;
        return marker;
      }


      // This function picks up the click and opens the corresponding info window
      function myclick(i) {
        gmarkers[i].openInfoWindowHtml(htmls[i]);
      }


      // create the map
      var map = new GMap2(document.getElementById("map"));
      map.addControl(new GLargeMapControl());
      map.addControl(new GMapTypeControl());
      map.setCenter(new GLatLng(42.245036, -83.616386), 1);
      map.setZoom(15);


      // Read the data from map.xml
      var request = GXmlHttp.create();
      request.open("GET", "data/Map.xml", true);
      request.onreadystatechange = function() {
        if (request.readyState == 4) {
          // Create a base icon for all of our markers that specifies the
          // shadow, icon dimensions, etc.
          var baseIcon = new GIcon(G_DEFAULT_ICON);
          baseIcon.image = "images/large_red_marker.png";
          baseIcon.shadow = "images/large_shadow.png";
          baseIcon.iconSize = new GSize(20, 34);
          baseIcon.shadowSize = new GSize(37, 34);
          baseIcon.iconAnchor = new GPoint(9, 34);
          baseIcon.infoWindowAnchor = new GPoint(9, 2);
          
          var xmlDoc = GXml.parse(request.responseText);
          // obtain the array of markers and loop through it
          var markers = xmlDoc.documentElement.getElementsByTagName("marker");
          
          for (var i = 0; i < markers.length; i++) {
            // obtain the attribues of each marker
            var lat = parseFloat(markers[i].getAttribute("lat"));
            var lng = parseFloat(markers[i].getAttribute("lng"));
            var point = new GLatLng(lat,lng);
            var html = markers[i].getAttribute("html");
            var label = markers[i].getAttribute("label");
            
            // Create the icon and see if we need to change
            var icon = new GIcon (baseIcon);
            if (label == 'Live') {
              icon.image = "images/large_yellow_marker.png";
            }
            if (label == 'Live No Monitor') {
              icon.image = "images/large_blue_marker.png";
            }
            
            // create the marker
            var marker = createMarker(point,label,html,icon);
            map.addOverlay(marker);
          }
        }
      }
      request.send(null);
    }

    else {
      alert("Sorry, the Google Maps API is not compatible with this browser");
    }
    // This Javascript is based on code provided by the
    // Blackpool Community Church Javascript Team
    // http://www.commchurch.freeserve.co.uk/   
    // http://econym.googlepages.com/index.htm
}