cookie_name = "HNLnow_favorites";
	var YouEntered;
	
	function putCookie() {

		if (atLeastOneCheckboxChecked('categories', 'cat')) {
			// at least one is checked
    
			if(document.cookie != document.cookie){
				index = document.cookie.indexOf(cookie_name);
			} else {
				index = -1;
			}
			if (index == -1){
				YouEntered = "";
				document.cookie = cookie_name+"="+YouEntered+"; expires=Monday, 04-Apr-2000 05:00:00 GMT";
				
				for(var i=0;i < document.categories.cat.length;i++) {
					if(document.categories.cat[i].checked){
						YouEntered += document.categories.cat[i].value+",";
					}
				} 
				YouEntered = YouEntered.substring(0,YouEntered.length-1); 
				document.cookie=cookie_name+"="+YouEntered+"; expires=Monday, 04-Apr-2020 05:00:00 GMT";
				document.thecookie.submit();
			}
		} else {
			// no checkbox is check
			alert('Please select your favorite categories before clicking Submit.');
		}
		
	}

	function resetCookie(){
		document.cookie = cookie_name+"=killit; expires=Monday, 04-Apr-2000 05:00:00 GMT";
		window.location.reload();
	}

	function validatefaves(){
		if (!document.form.myfaves.checked)
			alert('Please check at least one category box before clicking submit.')
	}
			
	function atLeastOneCheckboxChecked(formName, fieldName) { 
	 var objCheckBoxes = document.forms[formName].elements[fieldName];
	 var countCheckBoxes = objCheckBoxes.length;
	 if(!countCheckBoxes) {
	  	if (document.forms[formName].elements[fieldName].checked){
	 	  return true;
	 	} else {
	 	  return false;
		}
	 } else {
	  for (i = 0; i < countCheckBoxes; i++) {
	   if(objCheckBoxes[i].checked == true)
	    return true;
	  }
	 }
	 return false;
	}