(function($) {

    $.fn.slidefade = function(options) {
        return this.each(function() {   
            $.slidefade(this, options);
        });
    };

    $.slidefade = function(container, options) {
        var settings = {

            'speed':            'normal',
            'timeout':          2000,
            'containerheight':  'auto',
            'runningclass':     'slidefade',
			'children':         null
        };
        if (options)
            $.extend(settings, options);

            var elements = $(container).children();

        if (elements.length > 1) {
            $(container).css('position', 'relative').css('height', settings.containerheight).addClass(settings.runningclass);
            for (var i = 0; i < elements.length; i++) {
                $(elements[i]).css('z-index', String(elements.length-i)).css('position', 'absolute').hide();
            };
			
			setTimeout(function() {
				$.slidefade.next(elements, settings, 1, 0);
			}, settings.timeout);
			$(elements[0]).show();
		}
    };

    $.slidefade.next = function(elements, settings, current, last) {
      
            $(elements[last]).fadeOut(settings.speed);
            $(elements[current]).fadeIn(settings.speed, function() {
				removeFilter($(this)[0]);
			});
        
            if ((current + 1) < elements.length) {
                current = current + 1;
                last = current - 1;
            } else {
                current = 0;
                last = elements.length - 1;
            }
        
        setTimeout((function() {
            $.slidefade.next(elements, settings, current, last);
        }), settings.timeout);
    };

})(jQuery);

// **** remove Opacity-Filter in ie ****
function removeFilter(element) {
	if(element.style.removeAttribute){
		element.style.removeAttribute('filter');
	}
}