function loadDropdownMenu() {
$('#dropdown ul').css({display: 'none'}); // Opera Fix
$('#dropdown li').hover(function(){
	jQuery(this).find('ul:first').css({visibility: 'visible', display: 'none'}).show();
	},function(){ 
		jQuery(this).find('ul:first').css({visibility: 'hidden'}); 
	});
}
function loadBackgroundImage(file) {
	if( file == '') {
		file = 'http://www.spring-associates.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/bg-blog.jpg';
	}
	if( !(file == '') )
	{
		// remove current img
		if( $('img.bg').length ) {
			$('img.bg').remove();
			$('#loading').show();
		}
		var img = new Image();
		$(img).load(function () {
			// hide loader
			$('#loading').hide();	
			// hide image
			$(img).addClass('bg').hide();
			// append img tag to #page
			$('#page').append(img)
			// fade in img
			$(img).fadeIn(500);
		}).attr('src', file);
	}
	else {
		// no image found: hide loader
		$('#loading').hide();
	}
}
function loadTranslucentBackgroundImage(file) {
	if( file == '') {
		file = 'http://www.spring-associates.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/translucent-bg-blog.png';
	}	
	if( !(file == '') ) {
		$('.translucent').css({'background' : 'transparent url(' + file + ') repeat left top'});
	}
}