//based on http://www.webreference.com/javascript/960513/arrays.html
function makeArray(){
  this.length = makeArray.arguments.length 
  for (var i = 0; i < this.length; i++)
    this[i + 1] = makeArray.arguments[i]
}

function randNum (num) {
  var now = new Date();                                 
  var rand = Math.round(num * Math.cos(now.getTime())); 
  if (rand < 0) rand = - rand; 
  if (rand == 0) rand++;
  return rand;                                          
}