function max() {
    // http://kevin.vanzonneveld.net
    // +   original by: Onno Marsman
    // +    revised by: Onno Marsman
    // +    tweaked by: Jack
    // %          note: Long code cause we're aiming for maximum PHP compatibility
    // *     example 1: max(1, 3, 5, 6, 7);
    // *     returns 1: 7
    // *     example 2: max([2, 4, 5]);
    // *     returns 2: 5
    // *     example 3: max(0, 'hello');
    // *     returns 3: 0
    // *     example 4: max('hello', 0);
    // *     returns 4: 'hello'
    // *     example 5: max(-1, 'hello');
    // *     returns 5: 'hello'
    // *     example 6: max([2, 4, 8], [2, 5, 7]);
    // *     returns 6: [2, 5, 7]

    var ar, retVal, i = 0, n = 0;
    var argv = arguments, argc = argv.length;

    var _obj2Array = function(obj) {
        if (obj instanceof Array) {
            return obj;
        } else {
            var ar = [];
            for (var i in obj) {
                ar.push(obj[i]);
            }
            return ar;
        }
    }; //function _obj2Array

    var _compare = function(current, next) {
        var i = 0, n = 0, tmp = 0;
        var nl = 0, cl = 0;

        if (current === next) {
            return 0;
        } else if (typeof current == 'object') {
            if (typeof next == 'object') {
               current = _obj2Array(current);
               next    = _obj2Array(next);
               cl      = current.length;
               nl      = next.length;
               if (nl > cl) {
                   return 1;
               } else if (nl < cl) {
                   return -1;
               } else {
                   for (i = 0, n = cl; i<n; ++i) {
                       tmp = _compare(current[i], next[i]);
                       if (tmp == 1) {
                           return 1;
                       } else if (tmp == -1) {
                           return -1;
                       }
                   }
                   return 0;
               }
            } else {
               return -1;
            }
        } else if (typeof next == 'object') {
            return 1;
        } else if (isNaN(next) && !isNaN(current)) {
            if (current == 0) {
               return 0;
            } else {
               return (current<0 ? 1 : -1);
            }
        } else if (isNaN(current) && !isNaN(next)) {
            if (next==0) {
               return 0;
            } else {
               return (next>0 ? 1 : -1);
            }
        } else {
            if (next==current) {
               return 0;
            } else {
               return (next>current ? 1 : -1);
            }
        }
    }; //function _compare

    if (argc === 0) {
        throw new Error('At least one value should be passed to max()');
    } else if (argc === 1) {
        if (typeof argv[0] === 'object') {
            ar = _obj2Array(argv[0]);
        } else {
            throw new Error('Wrong parameter count for max()');
        }
        if (ar.length === 0) {
            throw new Error('Array must contain at least one element for max()');
        }
    } else {
        ar = argv;
    }

    retVal = ar[0];
    for (i=1, n=ar.length; i<n; ++i) {
        if (_compare(retVal, ar[i])==1) {
            retVal = ar[i];
        }
    }

    return retVal;
}