function in_array(element, array) {
  // Checks if an element exists in an array
  
  // @param  mixed   'element'  element to search for
  // @param  object  'array'    array to be searched
  
  // @return  boolean  true if element is in array or false if not
  
  var i, 
      num;
  
  num = array.length;
  i = 0;
  while (i < num)
    {
    if (array[i] === element)
      {
      // Element exists in the array
      return true;
      }
    
    i++;
    }
  
  // Element could not be found in array
  return false;
}