// 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);
}
// for inteligent cookies
var today = new Date();
var zero_date = new Date(0,0,0);
today.setTime(today.getTime() - zero_date.getTime());

var todays_date = new Date(today.getYear(),today.getMonth(),today.getDate(),0,0,0);
var expires_date = new Date(todays_date.getTime() + (8 * 7 * 86400000));

function storeMasterCookie() {
    if (!getCookie('MasterCookie'))
        setCookie('MasterCookie','MasterCookie');
}

function storeIntelligentCookie(name,value) {
    if (getCookie('MasterCookie')) {
        var IntelligentCookie = getCookie(name);
        if ((!IntelligentCookie) || (IntelligentCookie != value)) {
            setCookie(name,value,expires_date);
            var IntelligentCookie = getCookie(name);
            if ((!IntelligentCookie) || (IntelligentCookie != value))
                deleteCookie('MasterCookie');
        }
    }
}