sub IS4_SQL_execute {
#accept the SQL, then a list containing the bind values
my $sql = shift;
my @bind_values = @_;
my $sth; #statement handle
my $dbh; #database handle
$dbh = DBI->connect('DBI:ODBC:sybase_timallen','foo','bar')
  or die "Couldn't connect to database: " . DBI->errstr;
$dbh->{LongReadLen} = 20000;
$sth = $dbh->prepare_cached($sql);
$sth->execute(@bind_values)
  or die "Couldn't execute statement: " . $sth->errstr;
return ($dbh,$sth);
# I count on the calling sub finishing the statement
# and disconnecting
}