+/**** localization ****/
+/* needs to be in front of output_header, but we don't know the users preferences at this time,
+ * so we go by the session variable or if language is set
+ */
+/* set default */
+$language = detectlanguage();
+
+/* check if default in array of supported languages, else default to english */
+$supported_languages = array ('en','de');
+
+if ( !in_array($language, $supported_languages) )
+ $language = 'en';
+
+/* override with explicit request from user */
+if(myisset('language'))
+ $language = $_REQUEST['language'];
+else if(isset($_SESSION['language']))
+ $language = $_SESSION['language'];
+
+/* set it */
+set_language($language);
+/**** end language ****/
+
+/* done major error checking, output header of HTML page */