//Jquery Effects Functions...

//slideSwitch: Does a nice fading slideshow effect on DIVs...
function slideSwitch(targetElement, switchSpeed, bitRandom) {
    
    var $active = $('#' + targetElement + ' div.CurrentlyActiveSlide');

    if ( $active.length == 0 ) $active = $('#HomepageSlides div:last');

    var $next =  $active.next().length ? $active.next()
        : $('#' + targetElement + ' div:first');

    // the following is used to pull the next slide randomly...
    if( bitRandom == 1 ) {
        var $sibs  = $active.siblings();
        var rndNum = Math.floor(Math.random() * $sibs.length );
        var $next  = $( $sibs[ rndNum ] );
    }

    $active.addClass('LastActiveSlide');

    $next.css({opacity: 0.0})
        .addClass('CurrentlyActiveSlide')
        .animate({opacity: 1.0}, switchSpeed, function() {
            $active.removeClass('CurrentlyActiveSlide LastActiveSlide');
        });
}