def parse_query(qs, d = nil)
      params = {}

      (qs || '').split(d ? /[#{d}] */n : DEFAULT_SEP).each do |p|
        k, v = p.split('=', 2).map { |x| unescape(x) }

        if cur = params[k]
          if cur.class == Array
            params[k] << v
          else
            params[k] = [cur, v]
          end
        else
          params[k] = v
        end
      end

      return params
    end
def parse_query(qs, d = nil)
      params = {}

      (qs || '').split(d ? /[#{d}] */n : DEFAULT_SEP).each do |p|
        k, v = p.split('=', 2).map { |x| unescape(x) }

        if cur = params[k]
          if cur.class == Array
            params[k] << v
          else
            params[k] = [cur, v]
          end
        else
          params[k] = v
        end
      end

      return params
    end
Stolen from Mongrel, with some small modifications:
 Parses a query string by breaking it up at the '&'
 and ';' characters.  You can also use this to parse
 cookies by changing the characters used in the second
 parameter (which defaults to '&;').