$("#signupForm").live('submit', function(event) {
        event.preventDefault();

        var captcha;

        if($('#captcha').attr("value")) {
            captcha = $('#captcha').attr("value");
        }
        else {
            captcha = "";
        }

        $.ajax({
            url: "login/validate_signup",
            type: "POST",
            dataType: "html",
            data: "username=" + $('#signupUsername').attr("value") + "&password=" + $('#signupPassword').attr("value") + "&password2=" + $('#signupPassword2').attr("value") + "&email=" + $('#signupEmailAddress').attr("value") + "&captcha=" + captcha,
            beforeSend:
            function() {
                $('#usernameError').slideUp('slow');
            },
            success:
            function(html) {
                setTimeout(function(){
                    if(parseFloat(html))
                    {
                        return true;
                    }

                    else{
                        $('#usernameError').html(html);
                        $('#usernameError').slideDown('slow');
                        return false;
                    }
                },1000)
            }

        });
    });