$(function(){
  $('a[rel=external]').click(function() {
    window.open($(this).attr('href'));
    return false;
  });

  $("#contact_form").validate({
    errorContainer: $(".form_errors"),
    errorLabelContainer: $(".form_errors ul"),
    wrapper: 'li',
    rules: {
      message: "required",
      name: "required",
      email: {
        required: true,
        email: true
      }
    },
    messages: {
      message: "Please enter your message",
      name: "Please enter your name",
      email: "Please enter a valid email address"
    }
  });

});