function initialize() {
    if (GBrowserIsCompatible()) {
      var map = new GMap2(document.getElementById("map_canvas"));
      map.setCenter(new GLatLng(34.164694,-118.396504), 15);
      map.setUIToDefault();
      var blueIcon = new GIcon(G_DEFAULT_ICON);
      blueIcon.image = "http://www.google.com/intl/en_us/mapfiles/ms/micons/blue-dot.png";
      blueIcon.iconSize = new GSize(30, 30);
      // Set up our GMarkerOptions object
      markerOptions = { icon:blueIcon };
      var point = new GLatLng(34.164300,-118.396504);
      map.addOverlay(new GMarker(point, markerOptions));
    }
}