function showContent(page){

// Basic loader image - align in the CSS to get it to sit right.
//   $("#content").empty();
//   $("#content").append('<div align="center"><img src="ajax-loader.gif" /></div>');

// Faded out loader image - align in the CSS to get it to sit right.
     $("#content").css('opacity','.5');
     $("#loader").css('display','block'); 

   $.ajax({
      url: page+".php",
      cache: false,
      success: function(html){
// remove the next TWO lines if you aren't using the faded out loader image
         $("#content").css('opacity','1');
         $("#loader").css('display','none');
         $("#content").empty();
         $("#content").append(html);
      }
   });
   }