function validate_form() {
     var url = 'scripts/validate.pl?'+$('new_signup').serialize();
     var validation = false;

     new Ajax.Request(url, {
       method: 'get',
       onSuccess: function( t ) {
         if (t.responseText == '0') {
           this.validation = true;
           //alert("submitting:"+validation);
           $('new_signup').form.submit();
         }
         else {
           $('display_errors').innerHTML = t.responseText;
           //alert("not submitting:"+validation);
           this.validation = false;
         }
       },
       asynchronous:true,
       evalScripts: true
     });
     alert("outside function:"+this.validation);
     alert("Please hit OK to process request");
     return validation;
   }