////////////////////////////// VALIDATION FUNCTIONS ////////////////////////

  function validateString(TheField, description) {
    if (TheField.value == "") {
      alert("Please enter a value for [" + description + "]");
      TheField.focus();
      return false;
    } else {
      return true
    }
  }

  function validateEmail(TheField) {
    if ((TheField.value.indexOf("@") == -1) || (TheField.value.indexOf(".") == -1)) {
      alert("Invalid e-mail address");
      TheField.focus();
      return false;
    } else {
      return true;
    }
  }

function validateRequest() {
  return validateEmail(document.requestform.email) &&
         validateString(document.requestform.question, "Question");
}