nereidFadeObjects = new Object();
nereidFadeTimers = new Object();
//--------------------------- 
function nereidFade(object, destOp, rate, delta)
{
	if ( !document.all ) { return; }
	// NB. ie8 needs object HTMLImageElement 		
 	if ( object != "[object]" && object != "[object HTMLImageElement]" )
 	{ 
 		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);
	}
}