function ff_markdown($text)
{
    global $ff_processor, $ff_compath;

    // do the standard Markdown processing first
    if (!function_exists('Markdown')) require_once($ff_compath.'/markdown.php');
    $html = Markdown($text);

    // now fix <a href...> tags
    $html = preg_replace(
        "/(\\<a href=[^\\>]+)/i",    // search pattern
        "\${1} target=\"_parent\"",  // replacement
        $html
    );       
    return $html;
} // ff_markdown