function slide(navigation_id, pad_out, pad_in, time, multiplier) {
		// creates the target paths
		var list_elements = navigation_id + " li.sliding-element";
		var link_elements = list_elements + ">a";
		
		// initiates the timer used for the sliding animation
		var timer = 0;
		
		jQuery(navigation_id + ">li").addClass("sliding-element");
		jQuery(".current_page_ancestor, .current_page_parent, .current_page_item").removeClass("sliding-element");
		
		// creates the slide animation for all list elements 
		jQuery(list_elements).each(function(i)
		{
			// margin left = - ([width of element] + [total vertical padding of element])
			jQuery(this).css("margin-left","-120px");
			// updates timer
			timer = (timer*multiplier + time);
			jQuery(this).animate({ marginLeft: "0" }, timer);
			jQuery(this).animate({ marginLeft: "9px" }, timer);
			jQuery(this).animate({ marginLeft: "0" }, timer);
		});
	
		// creates the hover-slide effect for all link elements 		
		jQuery(link_elements).each(function(i)
		{
			jQuery(this).hover(
			function()
			{
				jQuery(this).animate({ paddingLeft: pad_out }, 250);
			},		
			function()
			{
				jQuery(this).animate({ paddingLeft: pad_in }, 250);
			});
		});
	}