window.addEvent('domready', function() {

            //slider variables for making things easier below
            var itemsHolder = $('container');
            var myItems = $$(itemsHolder.getElements('.item'));

            //controls for slider
            var theControls = $('controls1');
            var numNavHolder = $(theControls.getElement('ul'));
            var thePlayBtn = $(theControls.getElement('.play_btn'));
            var thePrevBtn = $(theControls.getElement('.prev_btn'));
            var theNextBtn = $(theControls.getElement('.next_btn'));


            //create instance of the slider, and start it up
            var mySlider = new SL_Slider({
                slideTimer: 7500,
                orientation: 'horizontal',      //vertical, horizontal, or none: None will create a fading in/out transition.
                fade: true,                    //if true will fade the outgoing slide - only used if orientation is != None
                isPaused: false,
                container: itemsHolder,
                items: myItems,
                numNavActive: true,
                numNavHolder: numNavHolder,
                playBtn: thePlayBtn,
                prevBtn: thePrevBtn,
                nextBtn: theNextBtn
            });
            mySlider.start();


            //adding a little animated rollover highlight to the play and prev/next buttons
            //var origBkgdColor = thePlayBtn.getStyle('background-color');
            //var newBkgdColor = "#80301D";
            //var btnArray = new Array(thePlayBtn, thePrevBtn, theNextBtn);

            //btnArray.each(function(e, i){
            //    e.set('tween', {duration: 350, transition: 'cubic:out', link: 'cancel'});
            //    e.addEvents({
//                    'mouseenter' : function() {
//                        this.tween('background-color', newBkgdColor);
//                    },
//                    'mouseleave' : function() {
//                        this.tween('background-color', origBkgdColor);
//                    }
//                });
//            });

        });