<!--

function opacity(id, opacStart, opacEnd, millisec) { 
    //speed for each frame 
    var speed = Math.round(millisec / 100); 
    var timer = 0; 
 
    //determine the direction for the blending, if start and end are the same nothing happens 
    if(opacStart > opacEnd) { 
        for(i = opacStart; i >= opacEnd; i--) { 
            setTimeout("changeOpac(" + i + ",'" + id + "','" + opacEnd + "')",(timer * speed)); 
            timer++; 
        }
    } else if(opacStart < opacEnd) { 
        for(i = opacStart; i <= opacEnd; i++) { 
            setTimeout("changeOpac(" + i + ",'" + id + "','" + opacEnd + "')",(timer * speed)); 
            timer++; 
        }
    } 
} 
 
//change the opacity for different browsers 
function changeOpac(opacity, id, checkEnd) {  
	if(is.ie) {
		var object = document.all[id].style
	} else if(is.ns) { //stupid old netscape
		var object = document[id]
	} else {
		var object = document.getElementById(id).style
	}
	object.opacity = (opacity / 100); 
	object.MozOpacity = (opacity / 100); 
	object.KhtmlOpacity = (opacity / 100); 
	object.filter = "alpha(opacity=" + opacity + ")";
	if(checkEnd == 0 && opacity == 0) {
		if(is.ie) {
			document.all[id].style.visibility = 'hidden';
		} else if(is.ns) { //stupid old netscape
			document[id].visibility = 'hidden';
		} else {
			document.getElementById(id).style.visibility = 'hidden';
		}
	}
	if(checkEnd > 0 && opacity == 0) {
		if(is.ie) {
			document.all[id].style.visibility = 'visible';
		} else if(is.ns) { //stupid old netscape
			document[id].visibility = 'visible';
		} else {
			document.getElementById(id).style.visibility = 'visible';
		}
	}
} 
 
function shiftOpacity(id,dowhen) { 
    //if an element is invisible, make it visible, else make it invisible 
    if(dowhen == 'start') {
        opacity(id, 0, 100, 1000); 
    } else { 
        opacity(id, 100, 0, 1000); 
    } 
}

// -->