gistfile1.txt

var SECOND = 1000,
			MINUTES = 60*SECOND,
			HOURS = 60*MINUTES,
			DAY = 24*HOURS;

		var targetDate = new Date( Date.parse('Thu, 17 Oct 2012 18:00:00 GMT+0200') );

		var diff = ( targetDate.getTime() - Date.now() );

		var days = Math.floor(diff / DAY),
			hours = Math.floor((diff - days*DAY) / HOURS),
			minutes = Math.floor((diff - days*DAY - hours*HOURS) / MINUTES),
			seconds = Math.floor((diff - days*DAY - hours*HOURS - minutes*MINUTES) / SECOND);

		console.log(days, hours, minutes, seconds);