/* -------------------------- basic cookie functions ----------------------- */

function writeCookie(name, value) {
	exp = new Date();
	var nowPlusThreeYears = exp.getTime() + (3 * 365 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000);
	exp.setTime(nowPlusThreeYears);
	exp = exp.toGMTString();
	document.cookie = name + "=" + escape(value) + "; expires=" + exp + "; path=/";
}

function readCookie(name) {
	var value = null;
	var cookies = document.cookie.split('; ');
	for (i=0; i<cookies.length; i++) {
		equalsPos = cookies[i].indexOf('=');
		cookieName = cookies[i].substring(0, equalsPos);
		cookieValue = unescape(cookies[i].substring(equalsPos + 1, cookies[i].length));
		if(name==cookieName) value = cookieValue;
	}
	return value;
}

function removeCookie(name) {
	exp = new Date();
	var yesterday = exp.getTime() - (24 * 60 * 60 * 1000);
	exp.setTime(yesterday);
	exp = exp.toGMTString();
	document.cookie = name + "=-1; expires=" + exp + "; path=/";
}