function slideSwitch() {
              var $active = $('#slideshow a.active');
              if ( $active.length == 0 ) $active = $('#slideshow a:last');
              var $next =  $active.next().length ? $active.next() : $('#slideshow a:first');
              $active.addClass('last-active');
              $next.css({opacity: 0.0})
                  .addClass('active')
                  .animate({opacity: 1.0}, 1000, function() {
                      $active.removeClass('active last-active');
                });
          }
          $(function() {
              setInterval( "slideSwitch()", 5000 );
          });