function spin(id) {
  $(id).show().update('<img src="/images/ajax_loader.gif" class="spinner" />');
}

Element.addMethods({
  insertionBefore: function (element, content) {
    new Insertion.Before(element, content);
  },
  insertionAfter: function (element, content) {
    new Insertion.After(element, content);
  },
  insertionTop: function(element, content) {
    new Insertion.Top(element, content);
  },
  insertionBottom: function(element, content) {
    new Insertion.Bottom(element, content);
  }
});