function shift(id) {
    $("#sliderContentContainer").children().fadeOut(100);
    $("#"+id).slideDown(500);
}

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: "2px" }, timer);
        $(this).animate({ marginLeft: "15px" }, timer);
        $(this).animate({ marginLeft: "2px" }, 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);
		});
    });
}