function lengthCountdown(field, maxlength)
{
 if (field.value.length == maxlength)
 {
  field.value = field.value.substring(0, maxlength);
  alert('Please keep your posting short!\n\nYou are limited to 600 characters (about 40 words).');
 }
 if (field.value.length > maxlength)
 {
  field.value = field.value.substring(0, maxlength);
  alert('You appeared to have attempted to paste in a large block of text.\n\nPlease start again and make a shorter posting.\n\nThe limit is 600 characters.');
  field.value = "";
 }
 error = true;
}