Jan 31 2009" etc.
        //  an object     : Interpreted as an object with year, month and date
        //                  attributes.  **NOTE** month is 0-11.
        return (
                d.constructor === Date ? d :
                        d.constructor === Array ? new Date(d[0],d[1],d[2]) :
                                d.constructor === Number ? new Date(d) :
                                        d.constructor === String ? new Date(d) :
                                                typeof d 