function validateForm() {
		var error="";
		var errorPrefix = unescape("%BB") + " ";
		var str="";
		
		//check the email address
		str = document.getElementById("email").value;
		if (str == "") {
			error += errorPrefix+"Please enter your email address\n";
		} else {
			var emailFilter=/^.+@.+\..{2,4}$/;
			if (!(emailFilter.test(str))) {
				error += errorPrefix+"Please enter a valid email address\n";
			}
			var illegalChars= /[\(\)\<\>\,\;\:\\\"\[\]]/
			if (str.match(illegalChars)) {
				error += errorPrefix+"The email address contains illegal characters\n";
			};
		};
		
		
		//check the name
		str = document.getElementById("first_name").value;
		if (str == "") {
			error += errorPrefix+"Please enter your first name\n";
		};
		
		/*str = document.getElementById("country").value;
		if (str == "") {
			error += errorPrefix+"Please select a country\n";
		};*/
		
		str = document.getElementById("postal_code").value;
		if (str == "") {
			error += errorPrefix+"Please enter your zip code\n";
		};
		
		if(error != "") {
			alert(error);
			return false;
		} else {
			return true;
		};
	};
	// ]]>