// the spy plugin
  (function ($) {
    
		$.fn.simpleSpy = function (limit, interval) {
			limit = limit || 4;
			interval = interval || 4000;
			
			return this.each(function () {
				// 1. setup
					// capture a cache of all the list items
					// chomp the list down to limit li elements
				var $list = $(this),
					running = true,
					items = [], // uninitialised
					currentItem = limit,
					total = 0, // initialise later on
					height = $list.find('> li:first').height();
					
				// capture the cache
				$list.find('> li').each(function () {
					items.push('<li>' + $(this).html() + '</li>');
				});
				
				total = items.length;
				
				$list.wrap('<div class="spyWrapper" />').parent().css({ height : height * limit });
				
				$list.find('> li').filter(':gt(' + (limit - 1) + ')').remove();
				
				$list.bind('stop', function () {
            		running = false;
        		}).bind('start', function () {
           			running = true;
        		});
						
				// 2. effect        
				function spy() {
					if(running){
						// insert a new item with opacity and height of zero
						var $insert = $(items[currentItem]).css({
							height : 0,
							opacity : 0,
							display : 'none'
						}).prependTo($list);
									
						// fade the LAST item out
						$list.find('> li:last').animate({ opacity : 0}, 500, function () {													
							// increase the height of the NEW first item
							$insert.animate({ height : height }, 500).animate({ opacity : 1 }, 500);
							
							// AND at the same time - decrease the height of the LAST item
							$(this).animate({ height : 0 }, 1000, function () {
								// finally fade the first item in (and we can remove the last)
								$(this).remove();
							});
						});
						
						currentItem++;
						if (currentItem >= total) {
							currentItem = 0;
						}
						
						setTimeout(spy, interval);
					}
				}
				
				spy();
			});
		};
			
		})(jQuery);