(function($) {

	$.fn.slider = function(options) {

		//set default options
		var defaults = {
			slideSpeed: 1000,
			timer: 6000,
			continuous: true,
			width: 354,
			height: 271
		};

		//marge all options into config variable
		var config = $.extend(defaults, options);

		//iterate through each item
		this.each(function() {

			var $this = $(this);

			//wrap ul item in a div to hide overflow
			$this.wrap("<div class='sliderWrapper'></div>");
			
			//grab all containing divs (in case there are multiples on the page)
			//and set css styling for them (eliminates need for css stylesheet)
			$(".sliderWrapper").
				css({ height: config.height + "px", width: config.width + "px", overflow: "hidden", 'margin':'0', 'padding':'0' });
				
			//set css styling for ul items
			$this.css({ 'width': "99999px", 'position': "relative", 'list-style': 'none', 'margin':'0', 'padding':'0' });
			
			//set css styling for child li items
			$this.children("li").css({ 'float': 'left' });
			
			//create timer to slide items
			var timer = window.setInterval(function() {
				
				//continuous sliding (no return to front slide)
				if (config.continuous) {
					
					//animate sliding to the left
					$this.animate({ left: "-" + config.width + "px" }, config.slideSpeed, function() {
						
						//this is the callback function
						//remove the first child item and append it to the end
						$this.css({ left: "0px" }).children(":first").remove().appendTo($this);
						
					});
				}
				
				//non-continuous slider
				//when you reach the end, slide back to the front
				else {
					
					//get the absolute value of the current position
					var currentPosition = Math.abs(parseInt($this.css('left')));
					
					//divide it by the content width to determine the current index
					//add one to get find the index of the next item
					var nextIndex = (currentPosition / config.width)+1;
					
					//check to see if the next child exists
					if ($this.children().eq(nextIndex).length) {
						//if another list item exists
						//determine the position required to show the next element
						var nextPosition = nextIndex * config.width;
						
						//animate sliding to the next element
						$this.animate({ left: "-" + nextPosition + "px" }, config.slideSpeed);
					}
					
					else {
						//this is the last list item
						//animate sliding back to the beginning of the list
						$this.animate({ left: "0px" }, config.slideSpeed);
					}
					
				}
				
			}, config.timer); //end timer
			
		}); //end this.each
		
		return this;

	}; //end function

})(jQuery);