// attempt 1
	var a = {};
	a["foo"] = "bar";

	function get(hash, key) {
		return(hash[key]);
	}

	if (get(a, k)) alert("bingo"); // alerts when k is "constructor"


// attempt 2
	var a = {};
	a["foo"] = "bar";

	function get(hash, key) {
		if (hash.hasOwnProperty(key)) return(hash[key]);
	}

	if (get(a, "constructor")) alert("bingo"); // looks good now


// attempt 3
	var a = {};
	a["foo"] = "bar";
	a["hasOwnProperty"] = 0; // oops! hides the built-in method

	function get(hash, key) {
		if (hash.hasOwnProperty(key)) return(hash[key]);  // throws fatal error
	}

	if (get(a, "constructor")) alert("bingo");