function show_messages() {
    if (!$('messages').innerHTML.stripTags().blank()) {
        slide_messages();
    }
}

function slide_messages() {
    new Effect.BlindDown("messages", {duration : 0.5});
    new Effect.Fade("messages", { duration: 5.0 });
    Element.show('messages_button');
}

function last_message() {
    if (!$('messages').innerHTML.stripTags().blank()) {
        Element.toggle('messages');
    } else {
        alert("No messages were reported during system last action");
    }
}