function setOpacity(element_id, opacity){
	var element = document.getElementById(element_id).style;
	element.opacity = (opacity / 100);
	element.MozOpacity = (opacity / 100);
	element.KhtmlOpacity = (opacity / 100);
	element.filter = "alpha(opacity="+opacity+")";
}

function setDisplay(element_id, display){
	var element = document.getElementById(element_id).style;
	element.display = display;
}

function fadeElement(element_id, start, diff, dir, time){
	var op = 0;
	var repeat = true;
	if (dir == "in"){
		op = start + diff;
		if (op > 100){
			op = 100;
			repeat = false;
		}
	} else {
		op = start - diff;
		if (op < 0){
			op = 0;
			repeat = false;
		}
	}
	setDisplay(element_id, "block");
	setOpacity(element_id, op);
	if (repeat){
		setTimeout("fadeElement('"+element_id+"', "+op+", "+diff+", '"+dir+"', "+time+")", time);
	}

}