MySQL Question

//Insert an update
function inUpdate($title, $update)
{
$user = "Zack";
$query = "INSERT INTO updates (title, update, date, user)
values('" . $title . "', '" . $update . "', CURDATE(), '" . $user . "')";

mysql_query($query) or die(mysql_error());
}
?>

<?php
include("functions.php");
databaseConnect("mysql.owensvilleumc.com", "username", "******", "dbname");

$title = $_POST['title'];
$update = $_POST['update'];

if(isset($title))
{
cleanString($title);
$okay++;
}

else
{
echo "You left the title field blank! ";
}

if(strlen($title) > 50)
{
echo "Your title cannot be longer than fifty characters. ";
}

else
{
$okay++;
}

if(isset($update))
{
cleanString($title, $update, $_COOKIE['user']);
$okay++;
}

else
{
echo "You left the update field blank! ";
}

if(strlen($update) > 500)
{
echo "The length of an update cannot exceed 500 characters. ";
}

else
{
$okay++;
}

if($okay == 4)
{
inUpdate($title, $update);
}

else
{
echo "something's up...";
}
?>

<form action="cms.php" method="post"> 
<table> 
<tr> 
<td> 
Update Title:
</td> 
<td> 
<input type="text" name="title"> 
</td> 
</tr> 
 
<tr> 
<td> 
Update:
</td> 
<td> 
<textarea name="update"> 
 
</textarea> 
</td> 
</tr> 
 
<tr> 
<td> 
<input type="reset" value="Clear"> 
</td> 
<td> 
<input type="submit" value="Submit"> 
</td> 
</tr> 
 
</table> 
</form>