def message_update(reply_id, message = ' ', image_name = nil, type = nil)
    ratings = get_ratings

    img = image_tag("icons/silk/#{image_name}#{session[:icon_filetype]}", :size => "16x16")

    update_page do |page|
      if ratings.include?(type) && ratings[type][:alert]
        page.replace_html 'ratings_results_' + reply_id, "#{img}&nbsp;<span>#{ratings[type][:alert]}</span>"
      else
        page.replace_html 'ratings_results_' + reply_id, "#{img}&nbsp;<span>#{message}</span>"
      end
      page.visual_effect :highlight, 'ratings_results_' + reply_id, :duration => 3.0
      page.visual_effect :fade, 'ratings_results_' + reply_id, :duration => 4.0
      page.replace_html 'ratings_results_' + reply_id, ""
      page.visual_effect :appear, 'ratings_results_' + reply_id
    end
  end