nereidFadeObjects = new Object(); 
nereidFadeTimers = new Object(); 

/* object - image to be faded (actual object, not name); 
* destop - destination transparency level (ie 80, for mostly solid) 
* rate - time in milliseconds between trasparency changes (best under 100) 
* delta - amount of change each time (ie 5, for 5% change in transparency) 
*/ 

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); 
} 
}