gistfile1.js

var sDate = new Date()
  , today = new Date()
  , str   = ""
  , node;

sDate.setFullYear(2011, 0, 1);

if (sDate > today) {
    str = sDate.getFullYear() }
else {
    str = '2010-' + sDate.getFullYear() }

// adds the date to the document
node = document.createTextNode(str); // creates a text element that holds the data to write to the document
document.body.appendChild(node);     // appends the node to the document (making it visible)