//if visitor doesn't change the value of the search box to 
	//something other than the word "Search", it pops an alert
	function validForm(passForm) {
		var myElement=passForm.ip_text.value;

		if (passForm.ip_text.value == " search " || myElement.trim() == "" || passForm.ip_text.value == "search") {
			alert("Please enter a search phrase")
			passForm.ip_text.focus()
			return false
		}

		return true
	}

	function clear_textbox()
	{
	try {
	
		if (document.siteSearchForm.ip_text.value == " search ")
			document.siteSearchForm.ip_text.value = "";
		}
		catch(errorObject)
		{
		}
	}
	 String.prototype.trim = function () { 
     return this.replace(/^\s+|\s+$/g, ''); 
   }