function slideSwitch(containerName) {    var container="#"+containerName+" DIV.active"; 
    var $active = $(container);
    if ( $active.length == 0 ) $active = $('#'+containerName+' DIV:last');
    // use this to pull the divs in the order they appear in the markup
    var $next =  $active.next().length ? $active.next()
        : $('#'+containerName+' DIV:first');
    $active.addClass('last-active');
    $next.css({opacity: 0.0})
        .addClass('active')
        .removeClass('hide')
        .animate({opacity: 1.0}, 0000, function() {
            $active.addClass('hide');
             $active.removeClass('active last-active');
        });
}