/*
   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);
}