var fade_time = 150;
var direction = -1;
var doing_fades = false;
var news_com = new com.main_site.front_page_news();

function populate_new_news() {
	var random_news = news_com.get_random_news_items(3);
	var i = 0;
	var div_title = "";
	var div_body = "";
	var div_image = "";
	var div_url = "";
	var new_image = "";
	var new_url;
	
	for ( i = 0; i < random_news.length; i++ ) {
		div_title = document.getElementById("news_title_" + (i+1));
		div_body = document.getElementById("news_body_" + (i+1));
		div_image = document.getElementById("news_image_" + (i+1));
		div_url = document.getElementById("news_url_" + (i+1));
		div_title.innerHTML = random_news[i].TITLE;
		div_body.innerHTML = random_news[i].DESCRIPTION;
		
		new_url = "#";
		if ( random_news[i].URL.length > 0 ) {
			new_url = random_news[i].URL;
			if ( random_news[i].URL_NEW_WINDOW == 1 ) {
				div_url.target = "_blank";
			}
		}
		div_url.href = new_url;
		
		if ( random_news[i].IMAGE.length > 0 ) {
			new_image = "url(/images/news_random/" + random_news[i].IMAGE + ")";
		} else {
			new_image = "url(/images/news_random/place_holder.jpg)";
		}
		
		div_image.style.backgroundImage = new_image;
	}	
	
	setTimeout( "init_news()", 8000 );
}

function init_news() {
	//initially hide them to make them fade in on load
	quick_hide_news();
	populate_new_news();
	direction = 1;
	
	var the_con1 = document.getElementById('news_item_1');
	var the_con2 = document.getElementById('news_item_2');
	var the_con3 = document.getElementById('news_item_3');
	fadeTo(the_con1, 1, .3).onComplete.addListener(function(){
		fadeTo(the_con2, 1, .3).onComplete.addListener(function(){
			fadeTo(the_con3, 1, .3);
		});
	});
	
}

function quick_hide_news() {
	var news_item = "";
	for ( var i = 1; i <= 3; i++ ) {
		news_item = document.getElementById("news_item_" + i);
		news_item.style.opacity = 0;
		news_item.style.filter = 'alpha(opacity=0)';
	}
}