Get date from string

/*
************************************************************
Developed by R.Arul Kumaran [arul@shockwave-india.com]     *
for more code keep visiting [www.shockwave-india.com/blog] *
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version 1.0 Last updated on 12 July, 2004
*/
function getDateFromString(str:String):Date {
        //converts a date string in the following format
        //"Thu Jul 8 12:48:23 GMT+0800 2004"
        var m = {Jan:0, Feb:1, Mar:2, Apr:3, May:4, Jun:5, Jul:6, Aug:7, Sep:8, Oct:9, Nov:10, Dec:11};
        var dArr:Array = str.split(' ');
        var tArr:Array = dArr[3].split(':');
        return new Date(Date.UTC(Number(dArr[5]), m[dArr[1]], Number(dArr[2]), (Number(tArr[0])-Number(dArr[4].substring(3, 6))), (Number(tArr[1])-Number(dArr[4].substring(6, 8))), Number(tArr[2])));
}
/*
//Usage:-
//sample date in Pacific Daylight Time
var str = "Sun Aug 11 17:00:00 GMT-0700 1974";
trace(getDateFromString(str));
//traces "Mon Aug 12 08:00:00 GMT+0800 1974" on my machine (Singapore Time)
//output will be in local time and will vary accordingly
*/