var target = Date.parse("Aug 18, 2009"); //target date
		//fields for displaying the time
		var days = 9;
		var hours = 9;
		var mins = 9;
		var seconds = 9;
		var msg = "ITS ARRIVED!"; //message to display on count down
		var diff = 9;
		function updateTime(){
			var today = new Date();
			var now = today.getTime();
			diff = target - now;
			var diffDate = new Date();
			diffDate.setTime(diff);


			days = diffDate/(24*60*60*1000);
			days = Math.floor(days);
			if(days != 0){
				diffDate -= days*24*60*60*1000;
			}
			if(diffDate <= 0){return;}
			hours = diffDate/(1000*60*60);
			hours = Math.floor(hours);
			if(hours != 0){
				diffDate -= hours*1000*60*60;
			}
			if(diffDate <= 0){return;}
			mins = diffDate/(1000*60);
			mins = Math.floor(mins);
			if(mins != 0){
				diffDate -= mins*1000*60;
			}
			if(diffDate <= 0){return;}
			seconds = diffDate/1000;
			seconds = Math.floor(seconds);
			if(seconds != 0){
				diffDate -= seconds*1000;
			}
		}

		function updateTimeDisplay(){
			updateTime();

			//check for arrival
			if(diff <= 0){
				document.getElementById('datedisplay').innerHTML = msg;
				return;
			}

			//formatting
			m = checkTime(mins);
			s = checkTime(seconds);



			//display and run again
			document.getElementById('datedisplay').innerHTML = days + "days " + hours + "hours " + m + "mins " + s + "seconds ";
			t=setTimeout('updateTimeDisplay()',500);
		}

		//formats time so it has a preceeding 0
		function checkTime(i){
			if (i<10){
  				return "0" + i;
			}
			return i;
		}