$(document).ready(function(){ // I've refrained from adding additional code above, but this where the trouble starts
    $.post('php/validate_input2.php', { nm : nm, lnm : lnm, em : em, um : um, jh : jh, us : us, cb : cb}, function(data, status)
    {
        if(status === "success")// it will enter this code block without fault
        {
            if(data == "failed_insert" || data == "revise_input")// heed the comparison operators. I've tried === too but to no avail. jQuery will ignore this block of code even when I know the data echo'd is either 1.
            {
                if(data == "failed_insert")// as above with === I've tried it
                {
                    alert("Server technical issues: " + data + " " + status); // I've left out all the fancy jQ magic for now if "failed_insert", but for testing I want to see this response here "as is".

                }
                else
                {
                    alert("Fields have failed validation: " + data + " " + status); // I don't see this code block getting executed neither

                }
            }
            else
            {
                alert("Data has been inserted: " + data + " " + status); // this is where EVERYTHING gets executed. This should only be shown if its not "revise_input" || "failed_insert" but one of various messages upon success of insert.
            }
        }
        else
        {
            alert("Failed or other data response; irrelevant for now");//as the alert suggests, no issue here.
        }
    });