var insertionPoint;
var oldChild;
var colour = 255;
var fadeInDone;
var fadeOutDone;

function printLatestNews()
{
	insertionPoint = document.getElementById( "latestNewsPoint" );
	oldChild = insertionPoint.firstChild;
	setTimeout( 'switchNewsItem( 0 )', 1000 );
}

function switchNewsItem( item )
{
	var newChild = document.createTextNode( latestNews[item] );
	if( oldChild )
	{
		insertionPoint.replaceChild( newChild, oldChild );
	}
	else
	{
		insertionPoint.appendChild( newChild, oldChild );
	}
	oldChild = newChild;

	fadeIn();
	setTimeout( "fadeOut(" + item + ")", 5000 );
}

function fadeIn()
{
	colour -= 5;
	insertionPoint.style.color = "rgb(" + colour + "," + colour + "," + colour + ")";
	
	if( colour > -5 )
	{
		setTimeout( "fadeIn()", 50 );
	}
}

function fadeOut( item )
{
	colour += 5;
	insertionPoint.style.color = "rgb(" + colour + "," + colour + "," + colour + ")";
	
	if( colour < 255 )
	{
		setTimeout( "fadeOut(" + item + ")", 50 );
	}
	else
	{
		if( item < latestNews.length-1 )
		{
			++item;
		}
		else
		{
			item = 0;
		}
	
		setTimeout( "switchNewsItem( " + item + " )", 1000 );	
	}
}