// Not in the slightest bit inspired by the BBC News Online ticker... ;-)
  
function ticker_start()
{
  	current_item_no = -1;
  	current_item_title_length = 0;
  	
  	page_item = document.getElementById( 'ticker_news_item' );
  		
  	ticker_run();
}
 
function ticker_run()
{
	var current_item_timeout;
	
	if ( current_item_title_length == 0 )
	{
		current_item_no++;
		current_item_no = current_item_no % item_count;
		current_item_title = item_list[current_item_no * 2];
		current_item_link = item_list[current_item_no * 2 + 1];
		
		page_item.href = current_item_link;
	}
	
	page_item.innerHTML = current_item_title.substring( 0, current_item_title_length ) + ticker_widget();
	
	if ( current_item_title_length != current_item_title.length )
	{
		current_item_title_length++;
		current_item_timeout = item_timeout_character;
	}
	else
	{
		current_item_title_length = 0;
		current_item_timeout = item_timeout_title;
	}
	
	setTimeout( 'ticker_run()', current_item_timeout );
}

function ticker_widget()
{
	if ( current_item_title_length == current_item_title.length )
		return item_widget_none;
	else if ( ( current_item_title_length % 2 ) == 1 )
		return item_widget_a;
	else
		return item_widget_b;
}

var item_timeout_character	= 50;
var item_timeout_title		= 5000;
var item_widget_a			= '-';
var item_widget_b			= '_';
var item_widget_none		= '';