$(document).ready(function()
{
    slide("#news-list", 25, 15, 400, .8);
    slide("#links-list", 25, 15, 400, .8);

    // creates the hover-slide effect for all link elements
    $("li.listhover a").each(function(i) {
        $(this).hover(
		function() {
		    $(this).stop().animate({ color: "white", backgroundColor: "maroon" }, 600);
		},
		function() {
		    $(this).stop().animate({ color: "black", backgroundColor: "tan" }, 800);
		});
    });
});

function slide(navigation_id, pad_out, pad_in, time, multiplier)
{
	// creates the target paths
	var list_elements = navigation_id + " li.sliding-element";
	var link_elements = list_elements + " a";
	
	// initiates the timer used for the sliding animation
	var timer = 0;
	
	// creates the slide animation for all list elements 
	$(list_elements).each(function(i)
	{
		// margin left = - ([width of element] + [total vertical padding of element])
		$(this).css("margin-top", "-50px");
		// updates timer
		timer = (timer*multiplier + time);
		$(this).animate({ marginTop: "0" }, timer);
		//$(this).animate({ marginLeft: "15px" }, timer);
		//$(this).animate({ marginLeft: "0" }, timer);
	});

	// creates the hover-slide effect for all link elements
	$(link_elements).each(function(i) {
	    $(this).hover(
		function() {
		    $(this).stop().animate({ color: "white", backgroundColor: "maroon" }, 600);
		},
		function() {
		    $(this).stop().animate({ color: "black", backgroundColor: "tan" }, 800);
		});
	});
}