my $url = qq!http://api.yellowbrix.com/api/?!;
my $common = qq!method=xml&id=verizon&pass­word=xxxxxx;!

# URL that returns list of YBX categories
my $category_list_http = $url . qq!service=category_list&$common!;

# URL to xml file on yellowbrix server. CATEGORY must be provided
my $category_http_start = $url . qq!service=headlines&$common&category=!;

my $category_http_end = qw !&enabletext=1!;

# URL to weather on yellowbrix server. weather query must be appended.
my $weather_http = $url . qq!service=weather&$common&query=!;