// Serialize a set of data. It can take two different types of objects:
  //  - An array of input elements.
  //  - A hash of key/value pairs
  // The function returns a serialized string
  function serialize(a) {
      // The set of serialize results
      var s = [];
                  
      // If an array was passed in, assume that it is an array
      // of form elements
      if ( a.constructor == Array ) {
  
          // Serialize the form elements
          for ( var i = 0; i < a.length; i++ )
              s.push( a[i].name + "=" + encodeURIComponent( a[i].value ) );
                          
      // Otherwise, assume that it's an object of key/value pairs
      } else {
  
          // Serialize the key/values
          for ( var j in a )
              s.push( j + "=" + encodeURIComponent( a[j] ) );
  
      }
                  
      // Return the resulting serialization
      return s.join("&");
  }