function slide(navigation_id, pad_out, pad_in, time, multiplier)
{
   // creates the target paths
   var list_elements = navigation_id + " li";
   var link_elements = list_elements + " a";

   // initiates the timer used for the sliding animation
   var timer = 0;

   // creates the slide animation for all list elements
   $(list_elements).each(function(i)
   {
       // margin left = - ([width of element] + [total vertical padding of element])
       original_marginLeft = $(this).css("margin-left");
       $(this).css("margin-left","-180px");
       // updates timer
       timer = (timer*multiplier + time);
       $(this).animate({ marginLeft: original_marginLeft }, timer);
       $(this).animate({ marginLeft: "15px" }, timer);
       $(this).animate({ marginLeft: original_marginLeft }, timer);
   });

   // creates the hover-slide effect for all link elements
   $(link_elements).each(function(i)
   {
       $(this).hover(
       function()
       {
           $(this).animate({ paddingLeft: pad_out }, 150);
       },
       function()
       {
           $(this).animate({ paddingLeft: pad_in }, 150);
       });
   });
}