$(document).ready(function()
    {
        slide("#sliding-navigation", 28, 18, 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: "10px"
        }, 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);
            });
    });
}