// lets see if we can't polish this up

function slideSwitch() {
	var $active = $('#slides li.active');

	if ( $active.length == 0 ) $active = $('#slides li:last');

	var $next =  $active.next().length ? $active.next()
	: $('#slides li:first');

	$active.addClass('last-active');

	$next.css({opacity: 0.0})
	.addClass('active')
	.animate({opacity: 1.0}, 1000, function() {
		$active.removeClass('active last-active');
	});
}

setInterval( "slideSwitch()", 5000 );