function periodicUpdater(updateURL,elem)
{
  if(updateURL && elem)
  {
    var updateInterval;
    execUpdater(updateURL,elem);
    updateInterval = window.setInterval("execUpdater('"+updateURL+"','"+elem+"')", 10000);
    $(elem).observe(
      "mouseover",
      function()
      {
        if(updateInterval)
        {
          clearInterval(updateInterval);
        }
      }
    );
    $(elem).observe(
      "mouseout",
      function()
      {
        updateInterval = window.setInterval("execUpdater('"+updateURL+"','"+elem+"')", 10000);
      }
    );
  }
}

function execUpdater(updateURL,elem)
{  
  /*new Effect.Move(
    elem,
    {
      x: -100, y: 0, mode: "relative",
      transition: Effect.Transitions.spring
    }
  );*/
  new Effect.Fade(elem);
  setTimeout("AjaxUpdater('"+updateURL+"','"+elem+"')",1000);
}  
   
function AjaxUpdater(updateURL,elem)
{  
  new Ajax.Updater(
    elem,
    updateURL,
    {
      onComplete: function()
      {
        /*new Effect.Move(
          elem, 
          {
            x: 100, y: 0, mode: "relative",
            transition: Effect.Transitions.spring
          }
        );*/
        new Effect.Appear(elem);
      },
      asynchronous: true, 
      evalScripts: true
    }
  );
}