function beginsWith(stringToInvestigate, stringToTest) {
    return stringToInvestigate.indexOf(stringToTest) == 0;
}

function prependStringTo(baseString, stringToPrepend) {
    if (stringToPrepend == null)
        return baseString;

    return stringToPrepend + baseString;
}

function removePrependingCharacters(baseString, charactersToRemove) {
    if (charactersToRemove == null)
        return baseString;

    if (beginsWith(baseString, charactersToRemove))
        return baseString.substring(charactersToRemove.length);

    return baseString;
}

function prependHashIfDoesNotExist(baseString) {
    if (beginsWith(baseString, "#"))
        return baseString;
        
    return prependStringTo(baseString, '#');
}

function openPodcastWindow(url) {
    window.open(url, "_blank", "height=100,width=325,titlebar=no,status=no,resizable=no,scrollbars=no,menubar=no,location=no,toolbar=no");

    return false;
}