$(document).ready(function(){
   newsTicker($("#footer_news_contents"), newsArray, 12000, 10000);
});



/*
 * Dependencies:
 *    jQuery Timer Plugin
 *    jQuery UI Effects (core, slide, drop) 
 */
function newsTicker($selector, newsArray, interval, slideSpeed)
{
   var newsCount = newsArray.length;
   var newsCounter = 1;

   if (newsCount == 0)
      return false;
   
   var interval = interval || 12000;
   var slideSpeed = slideSpeed || 10000;
   
   /* The first iteration */
   $selector.hide();
   $selector.text(newsArray[0]);
   $selector.show("slide", { direction: "right" }, slideSpeed);

   $.timer(interval, function(){
      $selector.hide("drop", { direction: "down" }, function(){
         $(this).text(newsArray[newsCounter]); 
         newsCounter++;
         newsCounter %= newsCount;
         
         $selector.show("slide", { direction: "right" }, slideSpeed);
      });
   });

};