function launchWindow(id){
        //Get the screen height and width
         var maskHeight = $(document).height();
         var maskWidth = $(window).width();

         //Set height and width to mask to fill up the whole screen
         $('#mask').css({'width':maskWidth,'height':maskHeight});

         //transition effect
         //$('#mask').fadeIn(1000);
         $('#mask').show();
         $('#mask').fadeTo("slow",0.8);

         //Get the window height and width
         var winH = $(window).height();
         var winW = $(window).width();

         //Set the popup window to center
         $(id).css('top',  winH/2-$(id).height()/2);
         $(id).css('left', winW/2-$(id).width()/2);

         //transition effect
         $(id).fadeIn(2000);
 }


$(document).ready(function() {
       launchWindow('#dialog');



     //if close button is clicked
     $('.window .close').click(function (e) {
         //Cancel the link behavior
         e.preventDefault();
         $('#mask, .window').hide();
     });

     //if mask is clicked
     $('#mask').click(function () {
         $(this).hide();
         $('.window').hide();
     });



});