function $() //use this function to get a reference to a single object or array of them
{
	var elements = new Array();
	for (var i = 0; i < arguments.length; i++) {
		var element = arguments[i];
		if (typeof element == 'string')
			element = document.getElementById(element);
		if (arguments.length == 1)
			return element;
		elements.push(element);
	}
	return elements;
}

function makeTimer(obj,picArray,interval,delayInterval) //use this function to create a looping slideshow pictures
{
  
  obj.counter=1;
  	 
  obj.Rotate = function()    
 {   
     // create a local variable which will be visible   
     var ref = this;   
         
     function timeout()   
     {   
         
		 // get a reference to the picture object  
		 ref.src=picArray[ref.counter];
		 ref.counter++;
		 
		 if(ref.counter==picArray.length)
		 {ref.counter=0;}   
     }   
        
     this.intervalId = setInterval(timeout, interval);   
 }   
 
}

function preloadImgs(picArray)
{
  var pImage=new Array(picArray.length-1);    
  for(var i=0;i<picArray.length;i++)
  {
    var img=new Image();
    img.src=picArray[i];
    pImage[i]=img;
  }
}

/*
   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);
}