$(document).ready(function()
{
    slide("#sliding-navigation", 30, 18, 150, 0.7);
});

function slide(navigation_id, pad_out, pad_in, time, multiplier)
{
    // creates the target paths
    var list_elements = navigation_id + " li.sliding-element";
    var link_elements = list_elements + " a";
    
    // initiates the timer used for the sliding animation
    var timer = 0;
    
    // creates the slide animation for all list elements 
    $(list_elements).each(function(i)
    {
        // margin left = - ([width of element] + [total vertical padding of element])
       // $(this).css("margin-left","-180px");
        // updates timer
        timer = (timer*multiplier + time);
        $(this).animate({ marginLeft: "0" }, timer);
        $(this).animate({ marginLeft: "15px" }, timer);
        $(this).animate({ marginLeft: "0" }, timer);
    });

    // creates the hover-slide effect for all link elements         
    $(link_elements).each(function(i)
    {
        $(this).hover(
        function()
        {
            $(this).animate({ paddingLeft: pad_out }, 150);
        },        
        function()
        {
            $(this).animate({ paddingLeft: pad_in }, 150);
        });
    });
}