function redirect(url)
{
   var COUNT_ELEMENT_ID = "countdown";
   
   if( !url )
   {
      throw new Error('No URL was provided.');
   }

   var element = document.getElementById(COUNT_ELEMENT_ID);

   if( !element )
   {
      throw new Error('"countdown" element id not found');
   }

   var ticks = parseInt(element.innerHTML);

   var timer = setInterval( function()
   {
      if( ticks - 1 )
      {
         element.innerHTML = --ticks;
      }
      else
      {
         clearInterval(timer);
         location = url;	  
      }

   }, 1000);
}