function getIEVersion() {
    var rv = -1;
    if (navigator.appName == 'Microsoft Internet Explorer') {
        var ua = navigator.userAgent;
        var re  = new RegExp("MSIE ([0-9]{1,}[\.0-9]{0,})");
        if (re.exec(ua) != null) {
            rv = parseFloat( RegExp.$1 );
        }
    }
    return rv;
}


$(function() {

    // Don't do the cycling if on IE
    // (IE can't handle fading of transparent png's)
    if (getIEVersion() == -1) {
        $('#alpha').cycle({
            fx: 'fade',
            speedIn: 2000,
            speedOut: 500,
            timeout: 8000,
            delay: -2000
        });
    }

    $('#sponsored-box').cycle({
        fx: 'fade',
        speedIn: 2000,
        speedOut: 500,
        timeout: 4000,
        delay: -2000
    });

});