function getRadioButtonValue(funnyName) {
  var radioArray = getFieldFromName(funnyName);

  for (var i = 0; i < radioArray.length; i++) {
    if (radioArray[i].checked) {
      return radioArray[i].value;
    }
  }
  return;
}

// this function gets the first instance of the field with the name, funnyname
// for radios and checkboxes, return the field group as an array.

function getFieldFromName(funnyName) {
  var form = document.form1;
  var funnyNamedField;
  var fieldGroup = new Array;
  var fieldsAdded = 0;
  
  for (var i=0;i<form.length;i++) {
    var f = form.elements[i];
    if (f.name == funnyName && (f.type == 'text' || f.type == 'checkbox' || f.type== 'textarea')) {
      return f;
    } else if (f.name == funnyName && f.type == 'radio' ) {
      fieldGroup[fieldsAdded++] = f;
    }
  }
  return fieldGroup;
}

function getFieldValue(funnyName) {
  var field = getFieldFromName(funnyName);
  if (field) {
    return field.value;
  }
}