/** function to pulse an elements opacity */
jQuery.fn.pulse = function(settings) {
	settings = jQuery.extend(
		{
			timeout: 900,
			count: 2
		},
		settings
	);

	jQuery.pulseVars = [];

	var id = $(this).attr('id');

	jQuery.pulseVars = [0,0,0];
	jQuery.pulseVars[0] = setInterval("$('#" + id + "').doPulse("+settings.timeout+","+settings.count+");",settings.timeout);
}

jQuery.fn.doPulse = function(tme,cnt) {
	if (jQuery.pulseVars[2] == cnt && cnt != 0) clearInterval(jQuery.pulseVars[0]);
	var aRate = (tme/9)*8;
	if (jQuery.pulseVars[1] == 0) {
		$(this).animate({opacity: 0.6},aRate,'swing');
		jQuery.pulseVars[1]++;
		jQuery.pulseVars[2]++
	}else{
		$(this).animate({opacity:1},aRate);
		jQuery.pulseVars[1] = 0;
	}
}