var slideInterval ;

function slideSwitch() {
  var $active = $('#slideshow a.active');
  if ($active.length == 0) $active = $('#slideshow a:last');
  var $next =  $active.next().length ? $active.next() : $('#slideshow a:first');
  $active.addClass('last-active');
  $next.css({opacity: 0.0})
    .addClass('active')
    .animate({opacity: 1.0}, 1000, function() {
      $active.removeClass('active last-active');
    }
  );
}

$(function() {
  if ($('#slideshow a').length > 1) {
    slideInterval = setInterval("slideSwitch()", 7500);
  }
});

jQuery.preloadImages = function() {
  for(var i = 0; i<arguments.length; i++) {
    jQuery("<img>").attr("src", arguments[i]);
  }
}
/**
 * To take advantage of this plugin use it in a form like:
 * $.preloadImages("image1.gif", "/path/to/image2.png", "some/image3.jpg");
 */