function addLoadEvent(func) {
        var oldonload = window.onload;
        if (typeof window.onload != 'function') {
            window.onload = func;
        } else {
            window.onload = function() {
                oldonload();
                func();
            }
        }
    }

    function prepareInputsForHints() {
        var inputs = document.getElementsByTagName("input");
        for (var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++) {
            // test to see if the hint span exists first
            if (inputs[i].parentNode.getElementsByTagName("span")[0]) {
                // the span exists!  on focus, show the hint
                inputs[i].onfocus = function() {
                    this.parentNode.getElementsByTagName("span")[0].style.display = "inline";
                }
                // when the cursor moves away from the field, hide the hint
                inputs[i].onblur = function() {
                    this.parentNode.getElementsByTagName("span")[0].style.display = "none";
                }
            }
        }
        // repeat the same tests as above for selects
        var selects = document.getElementsByTagName("select");
        for (var k = 0; k < selects.length; k++) {
            if (selects[k].parentNode.getElementsByTagName("span")[0]) {
                selects[k].onfocus = function() {
                    this.parentNode.getElementsByTagName("span")[0].style.display = "inline";
                }
                selects[k].onblur = function() {
                    this.parentNode.getElementsByTagName("span")[0].style.display = "none";
                }
            }
        }
    }
    addLoadEvent(prepareInputsForHints);