// EXPANING MENU SCRIPT
	var menuTransFlag = 0;

	function expandMenu(menuNumber,transistionSpeed) {

		// ONLY START A NEW TRANSISTION IF THE PREVIOUS ONE HAS COMPLETED
		if (menuTransFlag == 0) {

			var currentMenu = $('div.vertical_menu .vertical_menu_items').eq(menuNumber);

			// TOGGLE ELEMENT VISIBILITY STATE
			if (currentMenu.is(':hidden')) { currentMenu.slideDown(transistionSpeed); }
			else { currentMenu.slideUp(transistionSpeed); };

			// SET FLAG TO IGNORE CLICKS UNTIL TRANSISTION IS COMPLETE
			menuTransFlag = 1;
			var menuTransTimer = setTimeout(function() { menuTransFlag = 0; }, transistionSpeed);
		};
	};

	// CLOSE MENUS - BY DEFAULT ALL ARE LEFT OPEN FOR BROWSERS WITH NO JAVASCRIPT
	function closeMenus(anyOpenFlag,leaveOpen) {

		if (anyOpenFlag == 0) { $('div.vertical_menu .vertical_menu_items').hide(); }
		else {
			$('div.vertical_menu .vertical_menu_items').each(function(i) {
				currentMenu = $(this);
				if (!(leaveOpen == i)) { currentMenu.hide(); };
			});
		}
	};