function prepopulate(a_field, a_string) {
    if(a_field.value) {  ; /* nothing  */  }
   else {  a_field.value = a_string; }
}

function unpopulate(a_field, a_string) {
   if(a_field.value == a_string) {
     a_field.value = '';
   }
}

// sorta painful
function clone_input(a_field) {

}

function prepopulate_password(a_field, a_string) {

   if(a_field.value) { ; /* nothing */ }
   else {
      var clid = "cl" + Math.random();
      a_field.parentNode.innerHTML = '<input type="text" class="logInBoxes" name="password" id="' + clid + '" >';
      var clearfield = document.getElementById(clid);

      clearfield.onblur = function() {
         prepopulate_password(this, a_string);
      };
      clearfield.onfocus = function() {
         unpopulate_password(this, a_string);
      };

      prepopulate(clearfield, a_string);
   }
}

function unpopulate_password(a_field, a_string) {

   if(a_field.value == a_string) {

      var pwid = "pw" + Math.random();
      var pwparent = a_field.parentNode;
      a_field.parentNode.innerHTML = '<input type="password" class="logInBoxes" name="password" id="' + pwid + '" >';
      var pwnode = document.getElementById(pwid);
      pwnode.onblur = function() {
         prepopulate_password(this, a_string);
      };
      pwnode.onfocus = function() {
         unpopulate_password(this, a_string);
      };
      pwnode.focus();
   }
}