Sending variables

in as2 i would send variables out of the program with this code:

var url = “www.example.com”;

var urlParams = url + “&courseID=” + courseID + “&empNum=” + empNum + “&bookmark=” + bookmark + “&results=” + results;

getURL(_level0.urlParams);

in as3 i’ve tried this:
var bookmark:* = 5;
var url:* = this.loaderInfo.parameters.url;//its really a string
var urlParams = url + “&bookmark=” + bookmark;
sendToURL(urlParams);

i get run time error #1034- cannot convert “http://insidetis11/MTISeNET/TrainingRecords/autoPostFull.aspx?tick=49&bookmark=5” to flash.net.URLRequest.

do i need a url request??? i tried it and still didn’t work…
any ideas please??
Thanks