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