function render_news_item(news_page) {
    $("#newsPopup").fadeIn("fast");
    $('#newsPopup .inner').css({ height: "0", width: "0", paddingTop: "30px", paddingBottom: "30px"});
    $('#newsItemHolder').html('');
    $('#newsPopup .close').addClass('hidden');
    $("#newsPopup .inner").animate({
        height: 400
    }, 200)
    .animate({
        width: 500
    }, 400, function () { $('#newsPopup .close').removeClass('hidden'); ajax_page(news_page, 'newsItemHolder');  } );
    
}

$(document).ready(function() {
    // set click events on news items
    $('#rightCol ul li > a').click(function (e) {
        render_news_item(this.id);
    });
});