function validate(e)  {

	var error = 'false';
	var ary_frm = $(e).getElements('input');

	for(i=0; i<ary_frm.length; i++)  {
		if (ary_frm[i].name == 'username' && ary_frm[i].value == 'USERNAME') {
				ary_frm[i].value = '';
		}

		if (ary_frm[i].name == 'password' && ary_frm[i].value == 'PASSWORD')  {
			ary_frm[i].value = '';
		}
		if (ary_frm[i].value == '' || ary_frm[i].value == '--')  {
			if (ary_frm[i].getAttribute('rel') == 'required')  {
				ary_frm[i].setStyle('background', '#FFCCCC');
				error = 'true';
			}
		}  else  {
			ary_frm[i].setStyle('background', '#FFFFFF');
		}
	}

	var ary_frm_selects = $(e).getElements('select');

	for (b=0; b<ary_frm_selects.length; b++)  {

		if (ary_frm_selects[b].getAttribute('rel') == 'required')  {
			if (ary_frm_selects[b].value == "--")  {
				ary_frm_selects[b].setStyle('background', '#FFCCCC');
				error = 'true';
			}  else  {
				ary_frm_selects[b].setStyle('background', '#FFFFFF');
			}
		}  else  {
			ary_frm_selects[b].setStyle('background', '#FFFFFF');
		}
	}

	var ary_frm_textarea = $(e).getElements('textarea');

		for (c=0; c<ary_frm_textarea.length; c++)  {

			if (ary_frm_textarea[c].getAttribute('rel') == 'required')  {
				if (ary_frm_textarea[c].value == '')  {
					ary_frm_textarea[c].setStyle('background', '#FFCCCC');
					error = 'true';
				}  else {
					ary_frm_textarea[c].setStyle('background', '#FFFFFF');
				}
			}  else  {
				ary_frm_textarea[c].setStyle('background', '#FFFFFF');
			}
		}


	if (error == 'true')  {
		alert('You have not entered all the required fields.\r\nRequired fields are highlighted in red.');
		return false;
	}  else  {
		return true;
	}
}