GLuint loadBMP( char *filename ){//code (mostly) from www.opengl-tutorial.org

   char header[54];//header is always 54 bytes

   FILE *texture = fopen(filename, "rb");//open the texture


   if(!texture){//check if opened
      cerr<<"Bitmap "<<filename<<" could not be opened\n";
      return GL_FALSE;
   }

   if ( fread(header, 1, 54, texture)!=54 ){ //read in the header
      cerr<<"Bitmap "<<filename<<" is corrupt or invalid\n";
      return GL_FALSE;
   }


   if(header[0] != 'B' || header[1] != 'M'){
      cerr<<"Bitmap "<<filename<<" is invalid\n";
      return GL_FALSE;
   }

   //read in bitmap information
   int position   = *(int*)&(header[0x0A]);
   int size       = *(int*)&(header[0x22]);
   int width      = *(int*)&(header[0x12]);
   int height     = *(int*)&(header[0x16]);

   if(size == 0){//guess size if not given, assumes 24 bpp & no padding
      size = width*height*3;
   }

   if(position == 0){//guess start of map if not given(assumes normal header of 54 bits
      position = 54;
   }

   char *bufferData = (char*)malloc(sizeof(char)* size);
   if(bufferData == NULL){
      cerr<<"error, unable to buffer bitmap: "<<filename<<endl;
   }

   fread(bufferData,1,size,texture);//read the map from the open texture
   fclose(texture);

   GLuint textureID;//handle for new texture
   glGenTextures(1, &textureID);

   glBindTexture(GL_TEXTURE_2D, textureID);

   glTexImage2D(GL_TEXTURE_2D,      //mode
                0,                  //reduction level
                GL_RGB,                  //color components
                width, height,
                0,                  //border width
                GL_BGR,             //format
                GL_UNSIGNED_BYTE,   //data type
                bufferData          //texture data
               );

   free(bufferData);

   return textureID;

}