var showDetail = function(element, msg) {
    var id = "detailElement";
    var div = "<span class='" + id + "'>" + msg + "</span>";
    $("#" + element).append(div);
    $("#" + element + " span").show("slow");
}

var hideDetail = function(element) {
    $("#" + element + " span").hide("slow", function() { $(this).remove();});
}