def sign_in(request):
        """
        Controls a view.
        """

        if request.method == "POST":
                user = AUTHENTICATE(username = request.POST["username"],
                                    password = request.POST["password"])
                if user:
                        LOGIN(request, user)
                        next_    = request.GET.get("next", "/my_phil4")
                        response = REDIRECT(next_)
                else:
                        response = REDIRECT("/sign_in")
        else:
                form         = django.contrib.auth.forms.AuthenticationForm()
                current_page = sys._getframe(0).f_code.co_name
                current_year = datetime.date.today().year
                response     = RESPONSE(request,
                                        "sign_in.html",
                                        {"form"         : form,
                                         "menu_items"   : MENU_ITEMS,
                                         "current_page" : current_page,
                                         "current_year" : current_year})

        return response