// isBlank function test if the field value is blank
function isBlank( value ) {
	
	if ( value == "" ) return true;
	
	return false;
}

//alert an error message
function errMsg( msg ) {
	
	alert( msg );
	
	return true;
}

// checks that the value passed is a valid email address
function isValidEmail( email ) {
	
	re=/^\w+([\.-]?\w+)*@\w+([\.-]?\w+)*(\.\w{2,3})+$/
	
	if( !re.test( email ) ) return false;
	
	return true;
}