function is_empty(&$input)
    {
        if(isset($input) && ($input != null)     // check to make sure not empty
        && (is_array($input) && count($input) > 0) ||  // if array, make sure it has an element
           (strlen(trim($input)) > 0) )          // if not array, it should have non zero length
        {
            return false;
        }
        else
        {
            return true;
        }
    }