public function set_page($page) {

        // set the current page
        // make sure we save it as an integer
        $this->_properties['page'] = (int)$page;

        // if the number is lower than one
        // make it '1'
        if ($this->_properties['page'] < 1) $this->_properties['page'] = 1;

        // set a flag so that the "get_page" method doesn't change this value
        $this->_properties['page_set'] = true;

    }