function validate() {
var themessage = "There is a problem with the following fields:\n";
if (document.write_us.name.value==""){
themessage = themessage + "--name\n";
}
if (document.write_us.email.value=="") {
themessage = themessage + "--email address\n";
}
if (document.write_us.comments.value=="") {
themessage = themessage + "--comment(s) or question(s)\n";
}

var permissionChecked 
for (var i=0; i<document.write_us.permission.length; i++) {
	if (document.write_us.permission[i].checked) {
		permissionChecked = document.write_us.permission[i].value
	}
	}
	if (permissionChecked == "name_and_comments" && document.write_us.phone.value=="") {
	themessage = themessage + "--daytime phone number is required\n";
}
	if(!permissionChecked){ //if permissionChecked does not equal null
	themessage = themessage + "--you must grant or refuse permission to publish your comment(s) or question(s).\n";
	}
if (document.write_us.spamFilter.value=="") {
themessage = themessage + "--you must answer the spam filter question\n";
}
//alert if fields are empty and cancel form submit
if (themessage == "There is a problem with the following fields:\n") 
{
return true;
}
else {alert(themessage);
return false;
  }
}