function startNewsTicker() {
	var newsDelay = 6000, fadeDuration = 250, mouseOver = false;
									 
	var news = $$('#newsTicker ul li');
	news.each(function(el){
		el.setOpacity(0);
		el.addEvent('mouseover',function(){ mouseOver = true});
		el.addEvent('mouseout',function(){ mouseOver = false});		
	});

	var newsLength = news.length-1;
	var idx = Math.floor(Math.random() * newsLength);

	news[idx].setStyles({
		opacity : 1,
		'display' : 'block'
	});
	
	(function() {
			  
		if (!mouseOver) {
			
			var fx = new Fx.Style(news[idx],'opacity',{
				duration:fadeDuration
			});
			
			fx.start(1,0).chain(function(){
				news[idx].setStyle('display','none');
				
				idx++;				
				if (idx>newsLength) { 
					idx = 0; 
				}
				
				news[idx].setStyle('display','block');								
				new Fx.Style(news[idx],'opacity',{duration:fadeDuration}).start(0,1);
				
			});
		}
		
	}).periodical(newsDelay);
}