/*
	   name - name of the cookie
	   value - value of the cookie
	   [expires] - expiration date of the cookie
	     (defaults to end of current session)
	   [path] - path for which the cookie is valid
	     (defaults to path of calling document)
	   [domain] - domain for which the cookie is valid
	     (defaults to domain of calling document)
	   [secure] - Boolean value indicating if the cookie transmission requires
	     a secure transmission
	   * an argument defaults when it is assigned null as a placeholder
	   * a null placeholder is not required for trailing omitted arguments
	*/
	
	function setCookie(name, value, expires, path, domain, secure) {
	  var curCookie = name + "=" + escape(value) +
	      ((expires) ? "; expires=" + expires.toGMTString() : "") +
	      ((path) ? "; path=" + path : "") +
	      ((domain) ? "; domain=" + domain : "") +
	      ((secure) ? "; secure" : "");
	  document.cookie = curCookie;
	}
	
	/*
	  name - name of the desired cookie
	  return string containing value of specified cookie or null
	  if cookie does not exist
	*/	
	function getCookie(name) {
	  var dc = document.cookie;
	  var prefix = name + "=";
	  var begin = dc.indexOf("; " + prefix);
	  if (begin == -1) {
	    begin = dc.indexOf(prefix);
	    if (begin != 0) return null;
	  } else
	    begin += 2;
	  var end = document.cookie.indexOf(";", begin);
	  if (end == -1)
	    end = dc.length;
	  return unescape(dc.substring(begin + prefix.length, end));
	}
	
	/*
	   name - name of the cookie
	   [path] - path of the cookie (must be same as path used to create cookie)
	   [domain] - domain of the cookie (must be same as domain used to
	     create cookie)
	   path and domain default if assigned null or omitted if no explicit
	     argument proceeds
	*/
	function deleteCookie(name, path, domain) {
	  if (getCookie(name)) {
	    document.cookie = name + "=" +
	    ((path) ? "; path=" + path : "") +
	    ((domain) ? "; domain=" + domain : "") +
	    "; expires=Thu, 01-Jan-70 00:00:01 GMT";
	  }
	}
	
	// date - any instance of the Date object
	// * hand all instances of the Date object to this function for "repairs"
	function fixDate(date) {
	  var base = new Date(0);
	  var skew = base.getTime();
	  if (skew > 0)
	    date.setTime(date.getTime() - skew);
	}