var homeoff = new Image();
  homeoff.src = "images/home-off.gif";
  var homeon = new Image();
  homeon.src = "images/home-on.gif";

  var aboutusoff = new Image();
  aboutusoff.src = "images/aboutus-off.gif";
  var aboutuson = new Image();
  aboutuson.src = "images/aboutus-on.gif";

  var listingsoff = new Image();
  listingsoff.src = "images/listings-off.gif";
  var listingson = new Image();
  listingson.src = "images/listings-on.gif";

  var servicesoff = new Image();
  servicesoff.src = "images/services-off.gif";
  var serviceson = new Image();
  serviceson.src = "images/services-on.gif";

  var articlesoff = new Image();
  articlesoff.src = "images/articles-off.gif";
  var articleson = new Image();
  articleson.src = "images/articles-on.gif";

  var contactusoff = new Image();
  contactusoff.src = "images/contactus-off.gif";
  var contactuson = new Image();
  contactuson.src = "images/contactus-on.gif";

  var flinksoff = new Image();
  flinksoff.src = "images/links-off.gif";
  var flinkson = new Image();
  flinkson.src = "images/links-on.gif";


var isMenuAct = false; // the menu is not active yet

function actMenuItem(imgName) {
  isMenuAct = true; // the menu is now active
  act(imgName);
  inact(defImg);
}

function inactMenuItem(imgName) {
  isMenuAct = false; // the menu is no longer active
  if (document.images) {
    inact(imgName);
    timerID = setTimeout('if (!isMenuAct) act("' +  defImg + '")', 100);
  }
}

function act(imgName) {
  if (document.images) 
    document[imgName].src = eval(imgName + "on.src");
}

function inact(imgName) {
  if (document.images)
    document[imgName].src = eval(imgName + "off.src");
}