function slideSwitch(s, random) {

    var
    $next,
    random = random || 0,
    $slideshow = $('#slideshow'),
    $active = $slideshow.find('DIV.active');

    if ( ! $active.length ) $active = $slideshow.find('DIV:last');

    if ( random ) {
        var
        $sibs = $active.siblings(),
        rndNum = Math.floor(Math.random() * $sibs.length),
        $next = $($sibs[rndNum]);
    } else {
        $next = $active.next().length ? $active.next() : $slideshow.find('DIV:first');
    }

    $active.addClass('last-active');

    $next.css({
        opacity: 0
    })
    .addClass('active')
    .animate({
        opacity: 1
    }, s, function() {
        $active.removeClass('active last-active');
    });
    
}

function slideSwitchInit(delay, random) {
    var speed = 1500;
    delay = delay >= speed ? delay : 5;
    setInterval(function() {
        slideSwitch(speed, random);
    }, (delay * 1000) + 50);
}