fade_object = new Object();
timerID = new Object();

function fade_item(object, opacity, delta){
	if (!document.all) 
		return
/*
    if (object != "[object]"){  //do this so I can take a string too
        setTimeout("fade_item("+object+","+opacity+","+delta+")",0);
        return;
    }
*/
        
    clearTimeout(timerID[object.sourceIndex]);
    
    diff = opacity-object.filters.alpha.opacity;
    direction = 1;
    if (object.filters.alpha.opacity > opacity){
        direction = -1;
    }
    delta=Math.min(direction*diff,delta);
    object.filters.alpha.opacity+=direction*delta;

    if (object.filters.alpha.opacity != opacity){
        fade_object[object.sourceIndex]=object;
        timerID[object.sourceIndex]=setTimeout("fade_item(fade_object["+object.sourceIndex+"],"+opacity+","+delta+")",30);
    }
}