sub handle_request {
     my ($self, $cgi) = @_;

     # is this an static request or dynamic
     # actions do not have a period as they are 
     # functions of the webserver rather than files
     if($cgi->path_info() =~ /\./) {
         $self->serve_static($cgi,"c:\\appdir\\html");
     } else {
         # ensure action exists or set it to default
         my $action = $cgi->path_info();
         $action =~ s|^/||;
         if(! $self->can($action)) {
             $action = "home";
         }
         $self->$action($cgi);
     }  
 }