// -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
//
//	Fadeout Effect
//	Used in fading small banners images at first index page
//
// -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

nereidFadeObjects = new Object();
	nereidFadeTimers = new Object();
	function nereidFade(object, destOp, rate, delta){
	if (!document.all)
	return
		if (object != "[object]"){  //do this so I can take a string too
			setTimeout("nereidFade("+object+","+destOp+","+rate+","+delta+")",0);
			return;
		}
		clearTimeout(nereidFadeTimers[object.sourceIndex]);
		diff = destOp-object.filters.alpha.opacity;
		direction = 1;
		if (object.filters.alpha.opacity > destOp){
			direction = -1;
		}
		delta=Math.min(direction*diff,delta);
		object.filters.alpha.opacity+=direction*delta;
		if (object.filters.alpha.opacity != destOp){
			nereidFadeObjects[object.sourceIndex]=object;
			nereidFadeTimers[object.sourceIndex]=setTimeout("nereidFade(nereidFadeObjects["+object.sourceIndex+"],"+destOp+","+rate+","+delta+")",rate);
		}
	}