diff --git a/airtime_mvc/application/models/DateHelper.php b/airtime_mvc/application/common/DateHelper.php
similarity index 97%
rename from airtime_mvc/application/models/DateHelper.php
rename to airtime_mvc/application/common/DateHelper.php
index 504ad9e9e..472f01066 100644
--- a/airtime_mvc/application/models/DateHelper.php
+++ b/airtime_mvc/application/common/DateHelper.php
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <?php
 
-class Application_Model_DateHelper
+class Application_Common_DateHelper
 {
     private $_dateTime;
 
@@ -83,8 +83,8 @@ class Application_Model_DateHelper
     }
     
     public static function GetDayEndTimestampInUtc($time = "") {
-        $dayEndTimestamp = Application_Model_DateHelper::GetDayEndTimestamp($time);
-        return Application_Model_DateHelper::ConvertToUtcDateTimeString($dayEndTimestamp);
+        $dayEndTimestamp = Application_Common_DateHelper::GetDayEndTimestamp($time);
+        return Application_Common_DateHelper::ConvertToUtcDateTimeString($dayEndTimestamp);
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/airtime_mvc/application/common/OsPath.php b/airtime_mvc/application/common/OsPath.php
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..47161301d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/airtime_mvc/application/common/OsPath.php
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+<?php
+class Application_Common_OsPath{
+    // this function is from http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2670299/is-there-a-php-equivalent-function-to-the-python-os-path-normpath
+    public static function normpath($path)
+    {
+        if (empty($path))
+            return '.';
+    
+        if (strpos($path, '/') === 0)
+            $initial_slashes = true;
+        else
+            $initial_slashes = false;
+        if (
+            ($initial_slashes) &&
+            (strpos($path, '//') === 0) &&
+            (strpos($path, '///') === false)
+        )
+            $initial_slashes = 2;
+        $initial_slashes = (int) $initial_slashes;
+    
+        $comps = explode('/', $path);
+        $new_comps = array();
+        foreach ($comps as $comp)
+        {
+            if (in_array($comp, array('', '.')))
+                continue;
+            if (
+                ($comp != '..') ||
+                (!$initial_slashes && !$new_comps) ||
+                ($new_comps && (end($new_comps) == '..'))
+            )
+                array_push($new_comps, $comp);
+            elseif ($new_comps)
+                array_pop($new_comps);
+        }
+        $comps = $new_comps;
+        $path = implode('/', $comps);
+        if ($initial_slashes)
+            $path = str_repeat('/', $initial_slashes) . $path;
+        if ($path)
+            return $path;
+        else
+            return '.';
+    }
+}
diff --git a/airtime_mvc/application/controllers/ApiController.php b/airtime_mvc/application/controllers/ApiController.php
index 355305179..0439d99b4 100644
--- a/airtime_mvc/application/controllers/ApiController.php
+++ b/airtime_mvc/application/controllers/ApiController.php
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ class ApiController extends Zend_Controller_Action
             $this->view->layout()->disableLayout();
             $this->_helper->viewRenderer->setNoRender(true);
 
-            $date = new Application_Model_DateHelper;
+            $date = new Application_Common_DateHelper;
             $utcTimeNow = $date->getUtcTimestamp();
             $utcTimeEnd = "";   // if empty, GetNextShows will use interval instead of end of day
 
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ class ApiController extends Zend_Controller_Action
             $type = $request->getParam('type');
             if($type == "endofday") {
                 // make GetNextShows use end of day
-                $utcTimeEnd = Application_Model_DateHelper::GetDayEndTimestampInUtc();
+                $utcTimeEnd = Application_Common_DateHelper::GetDayEndTimestampInUtc();
             }
 
             $limit = $request->getParam('limit');
@@ -298,15 +298,15 @@ class ApiController extends Zend_Controller_Action
             $this->view->layout()->disableLayout();
             $this->_helper->viewRenderer->setNoRender(true);
 
-            $date = new Application_Model_DateHelper;
+            $date = new Application_Common_DateHelper;
             $dayStart = $date->getWeekStartDate();
-            $utcDayStart = Application_Model_DateHelper::ConvertToUtcDateTimeString($dayStart);
+            $utcDayStart = Application_Common_DateHelper::ConvertToUtcDateTimeString($dayStart);
 
             $dow = array("sunday", "monday", "tuesday", "wednesday", "thursday", "friday", "saturday");
 
             $result = array();
             for ($i=0; $i<7; $i++){
-                $utcDayEnd = Application_Model_DateHelper::GetDayEndTimestamp($utcDayStart);
+                $utcDayEnd = Application_Common_DateHelper::GetDayEndTimestamp($utcDayStart);
                 $shows = Application_Model_Show::GetNextShows($utcDayStart, "0", $utcDayEnd);
                 $utcDayStart = $utcDayEnd;
 
@@ -394,8 +394,8 @@ class ApiController extends Zend_Controller_Action
         $end_timestamp = $now->add(new DateInterval("PT2H"));
         $end_timestamp = $end_timestamp->format("Y-m-d H:i:s");
 
-        $this->view->shows = Application_Model_Show::getShows(Application_Model_DateHelper::ConvertToUtcDateTime($today_timestamp, date_default_timezone_get()),
-                                                                Application_Model_DateHelper::ConvertToUtcDateTime($end_timestamp, date_default_timezone_get()),
+        $this->view->shows = Application_Model_Show::getShows(Application_Common_DateHelper::ConvertToUtcDateTime($today_timestamp, date_default_timezone_get()),
+                                                                Application_Common_DateHelper::ConvertToUtcDateTime($end_timestamp, date_default_timezone_get()),
                                                                 $excludeInstance=NULL, $onlyRecord=TRUE);
 
 
@@ -467,7 +467,7 @@ class ApiController extends Zend_Controller_Action
             $show_inst->setRecordedFile($file_id);
             $show_name = $show_inst->getName();
             $show_genre = $show_inst->getGenre();
-            $show_start_time = Application_Model_DateHelper::ConvertToLocalDateTimeString($show_inst->getShowInstanceStart());
+            $show_start_time = Application_Common_DateHelper::ConvertToLocalDateTimeString($show_inst->getShowInstanceStart());
 
          } catch (Exception $e){
             //we've reached here probably because the show was
diff --git a/airtime_mvc/application/controllers/ScheduleController.php b/airtime_mvc/application/controllers/ScheduleController.php
index 5ad6ce234..33d436296 100644
--- a/airtime_mvc/application/controllers/ScheduleController.php
+++ b/airtime_mvc/application/controllers/ScheduleController.php
@@ -224,8 +224,8 @@ class ScheduleController extends Zend_Controller_Action
         $isAdminOrPM = $user->isUserType(array(UTYPE_ADMIN, UTYPE_PROGRAM_MANAGER));
         $isDJ = $user->isHost($instance->getShowId());
 
-        $showStartLocalDT = Application_Model_DateHelper::ConvertToLocalDateTime($instance->getShowInstanceStart());
-        $showEndLocalDT = Application_Model_DateHelper::ConvertToLocalDateTime($instance->getShowInstanceEnd());
+        $showStartLocalDT = Application_Common_DateHelper::ConvertToLocalDateTime($instance->getShowInstanceStart());
+        $showEndLocalDT = Application_Common_DateHelper::ConvertToLocalDateTime($instance->getShowInstanceEnd());
 
 		if ($epochNow < $showStartLocalDT->getTimestamp()) {
 
@@ -338,16 +338,16 @@ class ScheduleController extends Zend_Controller_Action
 
         /* Convert all UTC times to localtime before sending back to user. */
         if (isset($range["previous"])){
-            $range["previous"]["starts"] = Application_Model_DateHelper::ConvertToLocalDateTimeString($range["previous"]["starts"]);
-            $range["previous"]["ends"] = Application_Model_DateHelper::ConvertToLocalDateTimeString($range["previous"]["ends"]);
+            $range["previous"]["starts"] = Application_Common_DateHelper::ConvertToLocalDateTimeString($range["previous"]["starts"]);
+            $range["previous"]["ends"] = Application_Common_DateHelper::ConvertToLocalDateTimeString($range["previous"]["ends"]);
         }
         if (isset($range["current"])){
-            $range["current"]["starts"] = Application_Model_DateHelper::ConvertToLocalDateTimeString($range["current"]["starts"]);
-            $range["current"]["ends"] = Application_Model_DateHelper::ConvertToLocalDateTimeString($range["current"]["ends"]);
+            $range["current"]["starts"] = Application_Common_DateHelper::ConvertToLocalDateTimeString($range["current"]["starts"]);
+            $range["current"]["ends"] = Application_Common_DateHelper::ConvertToLocalDateTimeString($range["current"]["ends"]);
         }
         if (isset($range["next"])){
-            $range["next"]["starts"] = Application_Model_DateHelper::ConvertToLocalDateTimeString($range["next"]["starts"]);
-            $range["next"]["ends"] = Application_Model_DateHelper::ConvertToLocalDateTimeString($range["next"]["ends"]);
+            $range["next"]["starts"] = Application_Common_DateHelper::ConvertToLocalDateTimeString($range["next"]["starts"]);
+            $range["next"]["ends"] = Application_Common_DateHelper::ConvertToLocalDateTimeString($range["next"]["ends"]);
         }
 
         Application_Model_Show::ConvertToLocalTimeZone($range["currentShow"], array("starts", "ends", "start_timestamp", "end_timestamp"));
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ class ScheduleController extends Zend_Controller_Action
             //convert from UTC to user's timezone for display.
             $originalDateTime = new DateTime($originalShowStart, new DateTimeZone("UTC"));
             $originalDateTime->setTimezone(new DateTimeZone(date_default_timezone_get()));
-            //$timestamp  = Application_Model_DateHelper::ConvertToLocalDateTimeString($originalDateTime->format("Y-m-d H:i:s"));
+            //$timestamp  = Application_Common_DateHelper::ConvertToLocalDateTimeString($originalDateTime->format("Y-m-d H:i:s"));
             $this->view->additionalShowInfo =
                 "Rebroadcast of show \"$originalShowName\" from "
                 .$originalDateTime->format("l, F jS")." at ".$originalDateTime->format("G:i");
@@ -643,7 +643,7 @@ class ScheduleController extends Zend_Controller_Action
             $i = 1;
             foreach ($rebroadcastsRelative as $rebroadcast){
                 $rebroadcastFormValues["add_show_rebroadcast_date_$i"] = $rebroadcast['day_offset'];
-                $rebroadcastFormValues["add_show_rebroadcast_time_$i"] = Application_Model_DateHelper::removeSecondsFromTime($rebroadcast['start_time']);
+                $rebroadcastFormValues["add_show_rebroadcast_time_$i"] = Application_Common_DateHelper::removeSecondsFromTime($rebroadcast['start_time']);
                 $i++;
             }
             $formRebroadcast->populate($rebroadcastFormValues);
@@ -761,7 +761,7 @@ class ScheduleController extends Zend_Controller_Action
             //Changing the start date was disabled, since the
             //array key does not exist. We need to repopulate this entry from the db.
             //The start date will be returned in UTC time, so lets convert it to local time.
-            $dt = Application_Model_DateHelper::ConvertToLocalDateTime($show->getStartDate());
+            $dt = Application_Common_DateHelper::ConvertToLocalDateTime($show->getStartDate());
             $data['add_show_start_date'] = $dt->format("Y-m-d");
             $validateStartDate = false;
         }
diff --git a/airtime_mvc/application/models/MusicDir.php b/airtime_mvc/application/models/MusicDir.php
index 6c8f23e4f..b07ffff75 100644
--- a/airtime_mvc/application/models/MusicDir.php
+++ b/airtime_mvc/application/models/MusicDir.php
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ class Application_Model_MusicDir {
         if(!is_dir($p_path)){
             return array("code"=>2, "error"=>"'$p_path' is not a valid directory.");
         }
-        $real_path = realpath($p_path)."/";
+        $real_path = Application_Common_OsPath::normpath($p_path)."/";
         if($real_path != "/"){
             $p_path = $real_path;
         }
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ class Application_Model_MusicDir {
         }
         
         $dir->setType($p_type);
-        $p_path = realpath($p_path)."/";
+        $p_path = Application_Common_OsPath::normpath($p_path)."/";
 
 
         try {
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ class Application_Model_MusicDir {
 
                 //newly added watched directory object
                 $propel_new_watch = CcMusicDirsQuery::create()
-                   ->filterByDirectory(realpath($p_path)."/")
+                   ->filterByDirectory(Application_Common_OsPath::normpath($p_path)."/")
                    ->findOne();
 
                 //any files of the deprecated "link" type.
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ class Application_Model_MusicDir {
     {
         // we want to be consistent when storing dir path.
         // path should always ends with trailing '/'
-        $p_dir = realpath($p_dir)."/";
+        $p_dir = Application_Common_OsPath::normpath($p_dir)."/";
         if(!is_dir($p_dir)){
             return array("code"=>2, "error"=>"'$p_dir' is not a valid directory.");
         }else if(Application_Model_Preference::GetImportTimestamp()+10 > time()){
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@ class Application_Model_MusicDir {
      *  otherwise, it will set "Exists" flag to true
     **/ 
     public static function removeWatchedDir($p_dir, $userAddedWatchedDir=true){
-        $real_path = realpath($p_dir)."/";
+        $real_path = Application_Common_OsPath::normpath($p_dir)."/";
         if($real_path != "/"){
             $p_dir = $real_path;
         }
diff --git a/airtime_mvc/application/models/Schedule.php b/airtime_mvc/application/models/Schedule.php
index fb71a8f02..74b50ef73 100644
--- a/airtime_mvc/application/models/Schedule.php
+++ b/airtime_mvc/application/models/Schedule.php
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ class Application_Model_Schedule {
             return array();
         }
 
-        $date = new Application_Model_DateHelper;
+        $date = new Application_Common_DateHelper;
         $timeNow = $date->getTimestamp();
         $utcTimeNow = $date->getUtcTimestamp();
         
@@ -563,8 +563,8 @@ class Application_Model_Schedule {
                 'uri' => $uri,
                 'fade_in' => Application_Model_Schedule::WallTimeToMillisecs($item["fade_in"]),
                 'fade_out' => Application_Model_Schedule::WallTimeToMillisecs($item["fade_out"]),
-                'cue_in' => Application_Model_DateHelper::CalculateLengthInSeconds($item["cue_in"]),
-                'cue_out' => Application_Model_DateHelper::CalculateLengthInSeconds($item["cue_out"]),
+                'cue_in' => Application_Common_DateHelper::CalculateLengthInSeconds($item["cue_in"]),
+                'cue_out' => Application_Common_DateHelper::CalculateLengthInSeconds($item["cue_out"]),
                 'start' => $start,
                 'end' => Application_Model_Schedule::AirtimeTimeToPypoTime($item["end"]),
                 'show_name' => $showName
diff --git a/airtime_mvc/application/models/Show.php b/airtime_mvc/application/models/Show.php
index 006fa68b9..a8297017f 100644
--- a/airtime_mvc/application/models/Show.php
+++ b/airtime_mvc/application/models/Show.php
@@ -520,7 +520,7 @@ class Application_Model_Show {
         $timestamp = gmdate("Y-m-d H:i:s");
 
         if(is_null($p_date)) {
-            $date = new Application_Model_DateHelper;
+            $date = new Application_Common_DateHelper;
             $p_date = $date->getDate();
         }
 
@@ -663,7 +663,7 @@ class Application_Model_Show {
      *      true if the StartDate is in the past, false otherwise
      */
     public function isStartDateTimeInPast(){
-        $date = new Application_Model_DateHelper;
+        $date = new Application_Common_DateHelper;
         $current_timestamp = $date->getUtcTimestamp();
         return ($current_timestamp > ($this->getStartDate()." ".$this->getStartTime()));
     }
@@ -678,7 +678,7 @@ class Application_Model_Show {
     public function getAllFutureInstanceIds(){
         global $CC_DBC;
 
-        $date = new Application_Model_DateHelper;
+        $date = new Application_Common_DateHelper;
         $timestamp = $date->getTimestamp();
 
         $showId = $this->getId();
@@ -708,7 +708,7 @@ class Application_Model_Show {
 
         global $CC_DBC;
 
-        $date = new Application_Model_DateHelper;
+        $date = new Application_Common_DateHelper;
         $timestamp = $date->getTimestamp();
 
         $sql = "UPDATE cc_show_days "
@@ -729,7 +729,7 @@ class Application_Model_Show {
 
         global $CC_DBC;
 
-        $date = new Application_Model_DateHelper;
+        $date = new Application_Common_DateHelper;
         $timestamp = $date->getTimestamp();
 
         //TODO fix this from overwriting info.
@@ -1313,9 +1313,9 @@ class Application_Model_Show {
             $start = $first_show." ".$start_time;
         }
 
-        $utcStartDateTime = Application_Model_DateHelper::ConvertToUtcDateTime($start, $timezone);
+        $utcStartDateTime = Application_Common_DateHelper::ConvertToUtcDateTime($start, $timezone);
         //convert $last_show into a UTC DateTime object, or null if there is no last show.
-        $utcLastShowDateTime = $last_show ? Application_Model_DateHelper::ConvertToUtcDateTime($last_show, $timezone) : null;
+        $utcLastShowDateTime = $last_show ? Application_Common_DateHelper::ConvertToUtcDateTime($last_show, $timezone) : null;
 
         $sql = "SELECT * FROM cc_show_rebroadcast WHERE show_id={$show_id}";
         $rebroadcasts = $CC_DBC->GetAll($sql);
@@ -1736,7 +1736,7 @@ class Application_Model_Show {
     {
         global $CC_CONFIG, $CC_DBC;
         if($timeNow == null){
-            $date = new Application_Model_DateHelper;
+            $date = new Application_Common_DateHelper;
             $timeNow = $date->getUtcTimestamp(); 
         }
         //TODO, returning starts + ends twice (once with an alias). Unify this after the 2.0 release. --Martin
@@ -1896,7 +1896,7 @@ class Application_Model_Show {
         }
         foreach($rows as &$row) {
             foreach($columnsToConvert as $column) {
-                $row[$column] = Application_Model_DateHelper::ConvertToLocalDateTimeString($row[$column]);
+                $row[$column] = Application_Common_DateHelper::ConvertToLocalDateTimeString($row[$column]);
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/airtime_mvc/public/index.php b/airtime_mvc/public/index.php
index 46d5a29e0..f4fc46922 100644
--- a/airtime_mvc/public/index.php
+++ b/airtime_mvc/public/index.php
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ set_include_path(implode(PATH_SEPARATOR, array(
     realpath(APPLICATION_PATH . '/../library')
 )));
 
+set_include_path(APPLICATION_PATH . '/common' . PATH_SEPARATOR . get_include_path());
+
 //Propel classes.
 set_include_path(APPLICATION_PATH . '/models' . PATH_SEPARATOR . get_include_path());