function validate()
{	
	//clear warning tags
	document.getElementById("first_name_warning").innerHTML = '';
	document.getElementById("last_name_warning").innerHTML = '';
	document.getElementById("email_warning").innerHTML = '';
	document.getElementById("company_warning").innerHTML = '';
	document.getElementById("street_warning").innerHTML = '';
	document.getElementById("city_warning").innerHTML = '';
	document.getElementById("state_warning").innerHTML = '';
	document.getElementById("zip_warning").innerHTML = '';	
	/* the following loop only works in firefox */
	/*var warnings = document.getElementsByName("warning");
	for(var x = 0; x <warnings.length; x++)
	{
		warnings[x].innerHTML = "";
	}
	*/	
	
	var validate = new Boolean(true);
	if(document.getElementById("first_name").value == "")
	{		
		document.getElementById("first_name_warning").innerHTML = '<p name ="warning" class="warning"> Please provide a first name</p>';
		validate = false;
	}
	if(document.getElementById("last_name").value == "")
	{
		document.getElementById("last_name_warning").innerHTML = '<p name ="warning" class="warning"> Please provide a last name</p>';
		validate = false;
	}
	if(document.getElementById("email").value == "")
	{
		document.getElementById("email_warning").innerHTML = '<p name ="warning" class="warning"> Please provide an email</p>';
		validate = false;
	}
	if(document.getElementById("company").value == "")
	{
		document.getElementById("company_warning").innerHTML = '<p name ="warning" class="warning"> Please provide a company name</p>';
		validate = false;
	}
	if(document.getElementById("street").value == "")
	{
		document.getElementById("street_warning").innerHTML = '<p name ="warning" class="warning"> Please provide a street address</p>';
		validate = false;
	}	
	if(document.getElementById("city").value == "")
	{
		document.getElementById("city_warning").innerHTML = '<p name ="warning" class="warning"> Please provide a city</p>';
		validate = false;
	}	
	if(document.getElementById("state").value == "")
	{
		document.getElementById("state_warning").innerHTML = '<p name ="warning" class="warning"> Please provide a state</p>';
		validate = false;
	}	
	if(document.getElementById("zip").value == "")
	{
		document.getElementById("zip_warning").innerHTML = '<p name ="warning" class="warning"> Please provide a zip code</p>';
		validate = false;
	}	
		
	if(validate)
	{
		return true;		
	}
	else
		return false;

}