jQuery.fn.fadeToggle = function(speed, easing, callback) { 
			   return this.animate({opacity: 'toggle'}, speed, easing, callback); 
		     }; 

		     function slideSwitch() {
			$("#ticker_info").toggle();     
			     
			var $active = $('.ticker_image DIV.active');
			     
			if ( $active.length == 0 ) $active = $('.ticker_image DIV:last');
			var $next =  $active.next().length ? $active.next() : $('.ticker_image DIV:first');
		        var $description = $next.children('.description').html();
			     
			// 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}, 1000, function() {
				$active.removeClass('active last-active');    
			    });

			$("#ticker_info").fadeToggle(2000).html($description);   

		    }
		    $(document).ready(function() {
			$("#ticker_info").html($('.ticker_image DIV.active').children('.description').html());
			$("#ticker_info").fadeToggle(); 
			setInterval( "slideSwitch()", 10000 );
		    });