window.onload = fader;
floats = new Array();
fadespeed = 30;
lifespan = 4000;

// fades an element in and out
function fade( seq, id )
{
  seq = seq + 1;
  if ( seq != 100 && seq != 200 ) setTimeout( "fade("+seq+","+id+")",fadespeed );
  else if ( seq == 100 ) setTimeout( "fade("+seq+","+id+")",lifespan );
  else if ( seq == 200 && id == floats.length-1 ) setTimeout( "fader()",lifespan );

  if ( seq < 100 )
  {
    floats[id].style.opacity = seq * 0.01;
    floats[id].style.filter = 'alpha(opacity=' +seq+ ')';
  }
  else if ( seq > 100 )
  {
    floats[id].style.opacity = (200-seq) * 0.01;
    floats[id].style.filter = 'alpha(opacity=' +(200-seq)+ ')';
  }
}

// cycles all divs to send to fade()
function fader()
{
  floats = document.getElementsByTagName('div');
  start = 4; // start from here because first divs are not fading
  for ( i=start; i<floats.length; i++ )
  {
    setTimeout( "fade(0," +i+ ")", (i-start+1)*fadespeed*100 );
  }
}