   <!--

    // this section creates the image objects, defines their location, and preloads them

    news_button_idle = new Image();
    news_button_idle.src = "/images/news.jpg";
    news_button_active = new Image();
    news_button_active.src = "/images/news2.jpg";

    about_button_idle = new Image();
    about_button_idle.src = "/images/aboutus.jpg";
    about_button_active = new Image();
    about_button_active.src = "/images/aboutus2.jpg";
				
    membership_button_idle = new Image();
    membership_button_idle.src = "/images/members.jpg";
    membership_button_active = new Image();
    membership_button_active.src = "/images/members2.jpg";

    raids_button_idle = new Image();
    raids_button_idle.src = "/images/raids.jpg";
    raids_button_active = new Image();
    raids_button_active.src = "/images/raids2.jpg";

    pictures_button_idle = new Image();
    pictures_button_idle.src = "/images/pictures.jpg";
    pictures_button_active = new Image();
    pictures_button_active.src = "/images/pictures2.jpg";

    teamspeak_button_idle = new Image();	
    teamspeak_button_idle.src = "/images/teamspeak.jpg";
    teamspeak_button_active = new Image();
    teamspeak_button_active.src = "/images/teamspeak2.jpg";

    forum_button_idle = new Image();	
    forum_button_idle.src = "/images/forum.jpg";
    forum_button_active = new Image();
    forum_button_active.src = "/images/forum2.jpg";

    links_button_idle = new Image();	
    links_button_idle.src = "/images/links.jpg";
    links_button_active = new Image();
    links_button_active.src = "/images/links2.jpg";

    downloads_button_idle = new Image();	
    downloads_button_idle.src = "/images/downloads.jpg";
    downloads_button_active = new Image();
    downloads_button_active.src = "/images/downloads2.jpg";


    // this function applies the rollover effect based on the image name and direction of the cursor received

    function roll_over(img_name, direction)
	{
		if ( img_name == "news_button" && direction == "over" )
		{
			img_src = news_button_active.src
		}
		if ( img_name == "news_button" && direction == "out" )
		{
			img_src = news_button_idle.src
		}

		if ( img_name == "about_button" && direction == "over" )
		{
			img_src = about_button_active.src
		}
		if ( img_name == "about_button" && direction == "out" )
		{
			img_src = about_button_idle.src
		}

		if ( img_name == "membership_button" && direction == "over" )
		{
			img_src = membership_button_active.src
		}
		if ( img_name == "membership_button" && direction == "out" )
		{
			img_src = membership_button_idle.src
		}

		if ( img_name == "raids_button" && direction == "over" )
		{
			img_src = raids_button_active.src
		}
		if ( img_name == "raids_button" && direction == "out" )
		{
			img_src = raids_button_idle.src
		}

		if ( img_name == "pictures_button" && direction == "over" )
		{
			img_src = pictures_button_active.src
		}
		if ( img_name == "pictures_button" && direction == "out" )
		{
			img_src = pictures_button_idle.src
		}

		if ( img_name == "teamspeak_button" && direction == "over" )
		{
			img_src = teamspeak_button_active.src
		}
		if ( img_name == "teamspeak_button" && direction == "out" )
		{
			img_src = teamspeak_button_idle.src
		}

		if ( img_name == "forum_button" && direction == "over" )
		{
			img_src = forum_button_active.src
		}
		if ( img_name == "forum_button" && direction == "out" )
		{
			img_src = forum_button_idle.src
		}

		if ( img_name == "links_button" && direction == "over" )
		{
			img_src = links_button_active.src
		}
		if ( img_name == "links_button" && direction == "out" )
		{
			img_src = links_button_idle.src
		}

		if ( img_name == "downloads_button" && direction == "over" )
		{
			img_src = downloads_button_active.src
		}
		if ( img_name == "downloads_button" && direction == "out" )
		{
			img_src = downloads_button_idle.src
		}

		document[img_name].src = img_src;
	}


// --->