$(function() {

    //cache the ticker
    var ticker = $("#ticker");

    //wrap dt:dd pairs in divs
    ticker.children().filter("dt").each(function() {

        var dt = $(this),
		    container = $("<div>");

        dt.next().appendTo(container);
        dt.prependTo(container);

        container.appendTo(ticker);
    });

    //hide the scrollbar
    ticker.css("overflow", "hidden");
    ticker.css("display", "block");

    //animator function
    function animator(currentItem) {

        //work out new anim duration
        var distance = currentItem.height();
        duration = (distance + parseInt(currentItem.css("marginTop"))) / 0.025;

        //animate the first child of the ticker
        currentItem.animate({ marginTop: -distance }, duration, "linear", function() {

            //move current item to the bottom
            currentItem.appendTo(currentItem.parent()).css("marginTop", 0);

            //recurse
            animator(currentItem.parent().children(":first"));
        });
    };

    //start the ticker
    animator(ticker.children(":first"));

    //set mouseenter
    ticker.mouseenter(function() {

        //stop current animation
        ticker.children().stop();

    });

    //set mouseleave
    ticker.mouseleave(function() {

        //resume animation
        animator(ticker.children(":first"));

    });
});