function _init_item()
{
  amount_checks = new UcgArray('.*');
  amount_messages = new UcgArray('');
  email_checks = new UcgArray('.*');
  email_messages = new UcgArray('');
  paper_checks = new UcgArray('.*');
  paper_messages = new UcgArray('');
  sku_checks = new UcgArray('#0');
  sku_messages = new UcgArray(
      'Please select an item from the pull-down labeled '
    + '"1. Select item" before clicking the "add to basket" button.');
  re_quantity_checks = new UcgArray('.*');
  re_quantity_messages = new UcgArray('');
  recipient_checks = new UcgArray('.*');
  recipient_messages = new UcgArray('');
  otherRecipient_checks = new UcgArray('.*');
  otherRecipient_messages = new UcgArray('');
  giftBoxed_checks = new UcgArray('.*');
  giftBoxed_messages = new UcgArray('');
  giftPixed_checks = new UcgArray('.*');
  giftPixed_messages = new UcgArray('');


//  alert("document.item.recipient.options["+document.item.recipient.selectedIndex+"].value =" +"'"+document.item.recipient.options[document.item.recipient.selectedIndex].value+"'");
  var quantity = document.item.re_quantity.options[document.item.re_quantity.selectedIndex].value;

  /* hey hey hey - get sku to be added, check quantity of it avaliable, whine if user trying to add more than avaliable.
*/
  
  var invError = checkSkuInventory();
  if (invError)
    errors += invError;
    
  if(document.item.otherRecipient) {  // we're not on a gift cert version of the item page
    var recipientSelect = document.item.recipient;
    var recipient = recipientSelect.options[document.item.recipient.selectedIndex].value;
    var otherRecipient = trim(document.item.otherRecipient.value);
    if(recipient == 'pick') {
      if(otherRecipient != ''){
        document.item.recipient.selectedIndex = document.item.recipient.options.length-1;
      }else{
        errors += "Please choose a recipient from the pull down\n";
      }
    }else if(recipient == 'other') { // they chose myself
      if(otherRecipient == '' )
        errors += "Please enter a recipient in the appropriate text field\n";
      else
        checkUniqueRecipient();
    }else if(recipient == 'me') { // they chose other
      /*
      if(otherRecipient != '')
        errors += "Please please do not enter a recipient if you would like this item shipped to yourself\n";
      */
    }else if(otherRecipient != "" 
      && trimPrefix("OPT_", recipient).toLowerCase() != otherRecipient.toLowerCase()) {
      errors += "To enter a new recipient name, please choose '" 
        + recipientSelect.options[recipientSelect.options.length-1].text + "' from the pull down\n";
    }
      
  }

  return true;
}