private java.sql.Date getCurrentDate() {
		java.sql.Date returnDate = null;
		
		try {
			PreparedStatement date_query = con.prepareStatement("SELECT sysdate FROM dual");
			ResultSet date_result = date_query.executeQuery();
			if (date_result.next()) {
				returnDate = date_result.getDate(1);
			}
		} catch (SQLException e) {
			System.out.println("Could not retrieve sysdate.");
			e.printStackTrace();
		}
		return returnDate;
	}