// 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);
}