public  Image loadImage (String file)  // this method reads and loads the image
	    {
	        try
	        {
	        	InputStream m = this.getClass().getResourceAsStream(file);
	            return ImageIO.read (m);
	        }
	        catch (IOException e)
	        {
	            System.out.println ("Error: File " + file + " not found.");
	            return null;
	        }
	    }