$(document).ready(function()
{
        slide("#sliding-navigation", 25, 15, 150, .8);
});

function slide(navigation_id, pad_out, pad_in, time, multiplier)
{
        // creates the target paths
        var list_elements = navigation_id + " li.sliding-element";
        var link_elements = list_elements + " a";
        
        // initiates the timer used for the sliding animation
        var timer = 0;
        
        // creates the slide animation for all list elements 
        $(list_elements).each(function(i)
        {
                // margin left = - ([width of element] + [total vertical padding of element])
                $(this).css("margin-left","-180px");
                // updates timer
                timer = (timer*multiplier + time);
                $(this).animate({ marginLeft: "0" }, timer);
                $(this).animate({ marginLeft: "15px" }, timer);
                $(this).animate({ marginLeft: "0" }, timer);
        });

        // creates the hover-slide effect for all link elements                 
        $(link_elements).each(function(i)
	{
		$(this).hover(
		function()
		{
			$(this).animate({ paddingLeft: pad_out }, 150);
		},		
		function()
		{
			$(this).animate({ paddingLeft: pad_in }, 150);
		});
	});
}