var _n = 0;
var _o = 0;
var _s;
var _container;
var _FADESPEED = 1;
var _FADESTEP = 10;
var _HOLDTIME = 7500;

function LaunchTicker(container) {
    _container = container;
    Next();
}

function Next() {
    _container.style.filter = 'alpha(opacity=' + _o + ')';
    _container.innerHTML = news[_n];
    _s = setInterval(Unfade, _FADESPEED);
}

function Unfade() {
    _o += _FADESTEP;

    _container.style.filter = 'alpha(opacity=' + _o + ')';
    _container.style.MozOpacity = _o / 100;

    if (_o == 100) {
        clearInterval(_s);
        setTimeout(Hold, _HOLDTIME);
    }
}

function Hold() {
    _s = setInterval(Fade, _FADESPEED);
}

function Fade() {
    _o -= _FADESTEP;

    _container.style.filter = 'alpha(opacity=' + _o + ')';
    _container.style.MozOpacity = _o / 100;

    if (_o == 0) {
        clearInterval(_s);
        _n++;
        if (_n == news.length) _n = 0;
        Next();
    }
}