/*
       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);
    }

    var now = new Date();
    fixDate(now);

    now.setTime(now.getTime() + 365 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000);