function startLoading() {
loader.className = '';
}
function finishedLoading() {
// first, toggle the class 'done', which makes the loading screen
// fade out
loader.className = 'done';
setTimeout(function() {
// then, after a half-second, add the class 'hide', which hides
// it completely and ensures that the user can interact with the
// map again.
loader.className = 'hide';
}, 500);
}