// http://www.brainerror.net/scripts_js_blendtrans.php
function opacity(id, opacStart, opacEnd, millisec, rate) { 
  //speed for each frame 
  var speed = Math.round(millisec / rate); 
  var timer = 0; 

  //determine the direction for the blending, if start and end are the same nothing happens 
  if(opacStart > opacEnd) { 
    for(i = opacStart; i >= opacEnd; i--) { 
      setTimeout("changeOpac(" + i + ",'" + id + "')",(timer * speed)); 
      timer++; 
    } 
  } else if(opacStart < opacEnd) { 
    for(i = opacStart; i <= opacEnd; i++) { 
      setTimeout("changeOpac(" + i + ",'" + id + "')",(timer * speed)); 
      timer++; 
    } 
  } 
} 

//change the opacity for different browsers 
function changeOpac(opacity, id) { 
  var object = document.getElementById(id).style; 
  object.opacity = (opacity / 100); 
  object.MozOpacity = (opacity / 100); 
  object.KhtmlOpacity = (opacity / 100); 
  object.filter = "alpha(opacity=" + opacity + ")"; 
} 

function pausecomp(millis) {
  date = new Date();
  var curDate = null;

  do { var curDate = new Date(); } 
  while(curDate-date < millis);
}