function slideSwitch(switchSpeed) {
    var $active = $('#slideshow IMG.active');
    
    if ( $active.length == 0 ) $active = $('#slideshow IMG:last');

    var $next =  $active.next('IMG').length ? $active.next('IMG')
       : $('#slideshow IMG:first');

    /*
    var $sibs  = $active.siblings();
    var rndNum = Math.floor(Math.random() * $sibs.length );
    var $next  = $( $sibs[ rndNum ] );
    */
    
    $active.addClass('last-active');
    
    
    $next.css({opacity: 0.0})
        .addClass('active')
        .animate({opacity: 1.0}, switchSpeed, function() {
            $active.removeClass('active last-active');
        });
}



$(function() {
    setInterval ( "slideSwitch(1500)", 3000 );    
});


// header slideshows

function slideSwitchHead(switchSpeed) {
    var $active = $('#slideshow IMG.active');
    
    if ( $active.length == 0 ) $active = $('#slideshow IMG:last');

    var $next =  $active.next('IMG').length ? $active.next('IMG')
       : $('#slideshowHead IMG:first');

    /*
    var $sibs  = $active.siblings();
    var rndNum = Math.floor(Math.random() * $sibs.length );
    var $next  = $( $sibs[ rndNum ] );
    */
    
    $active.addClass('last-active');
    
    
    $next.css({opacity: 0.0})
        .addClass('active')
        .animate({opacity: 1.0}, switchSpeed, function() {
            $active.removeClass('active last-active');
        });
}



$(function() {
    setInterval ( "slideSwitchHead(1500)", 3000 );    
});