function makeLongFront(text, ideal_width, id){
	var temp_item = ('<span class="storytitle" id="'+id+'" style="display:none;">'+text+'</span>');
	$(temp_item).appendTo('body');
	var item_width = $('span#'+id).width();
	var ideal = parseInt(ideal_width);
	var new_text = text;
	
	while(item_width < (ideal-3)){
		new_text = "&nbsp; "+new_text;
		$('span#'+id).html(new_text);
		item_width = $('span#'+id).width();
	}
	
	if(new_text != text){
		return new_text;
	}
	else{
		return text;
	}
}

function makeLongBack(text, ideal_width){
	var temp_item = ('<span class="commentstitle" style="display:none;">'+text+'</span>');
	$(temp_item).appendTo('body');
	var item_width = $('span.commentstitle').width();
	var ideal = parseInt(ideal_width);
	var new_text = text;
	
	while(item_width < (ideal-4)){
		new_text = new_text+"&nbsp;";
		$('span.commentstitle').html(new_text);
		item_width = $('span.commentstitle').width();
	}
	
	if(new_text != text){
		return new_text;
	}
	else{
		return text;
	}
}