Cannot access variables values in jQuery
===

The issue I am having is I cannot access the value of the variables outside the function. I have just started to learn jQuery and I really like it, but this has had me stuck for quite a while now.

I have read other threads related to this, but those methods still do not work!

		$.get("/new/verify.php", { username: username, email: email },
			function(data){
				var stop_loading = '0';
				if(data == 'username')
				{
					alert('username taken');
					$('#username_taken_error').show();
					$('#username').focus();
					stop_loading = '1';
				}else if(data == 'email') {
					alert('email taken');
					$('#email_taken_error').show();
					$('#email').focus();
					stop_loading = '1';
				}else if(data == 'username|email') {
					alert('username/email taken');
					$('#username_taken_error').show();
					$('#email_taken_error').show();
					$('#username').focus();
					stop_loading = '1';		
				}
		});
		
		alert(stop_loading);
		
		if(stop_loading == '1') {
			alert('Stop loading');
			return false;	
		}