var _POPUP_FEATURES = '';

function raw_popup(url, target, features) {
    // pops up a window containing url optionally named target, optionally having features
    if (isUndefined(features)) features = _POPUP_FEATURES;
    if (isUndefined(target  )) target   = '_blank';
    var theWindow = window.open(url, target, features);
    theWindow.focus();
    return theWindow;
}