// 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);
	}