var xmlHttp

function get_newest_member() {
  xmlHttp = GetXmlHttpObject();
  if (xmlHttp == null) {
    alert ("Your browser does not support AJAX!");
    return;
    }

  var url = "/include/get_newest_member.py";
  xmlHttp.onreadystatechange=stateChanged;
  xmlHttp.open("GET", url, true);
  xmlHttp.send(null);
}

function stateChanged() {
  if (xmlHttp.readyState == 4) {
  document.getElementById("newest_member").innerHTML = xmlHttp.responseText;
  }
}

function GetXmlHttpObject() {
  var xmlHttp = null;
  try {
    // Firefox, Opera 8.0+, Safari
    xmlHttp = new XMLHttpRequest();
    }
  catch (e) {
    // Internet Explorer
    try {
      xmlHttp = new ActiveXObject("Msxml2.XMLHTTP");
      }
    catch (e) {
      xmlHttp = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
      }
    }
  return xmlHttp;
}

function start() {
  var myInterval = window.setInterval(function () {
    get_newest_member();
  },50000);
}

get_newest_member()
start()