(function($) {

   //******************************************
   //Cascading Drop Downs Functions

   $.fn.emptySelect = function() {
     return this.each(function(){
       if (this.tagName=='SELECT') this.options.length = 0;
     });
   }


   $.fn.loadSelect = function(optionsDataArray) {
     return this.emptySelect().each(function(){
       if (this.tagName=='SELECT') {
         var selectElement = this;
         $.each(optionsDataArray,function(index,optionData){
           var option = new Option(optionData.caption,
                                   optionData.value);
           if ($.browser.msie) {
             selectElement.add(option);
             if (optionData.bold=='yes') {
             selectElement.options[selectElement.options.length-1].className="featuredDropClass";
             }
             //this.options.getElement(this.options.length).addClass("listBold");
             //selectElement.css('listbold');
           }
           else {
             selectElement.add(option,null);
             if (optionData.bold=='yes') {
             selectElement.options[selectElement.options.length-1].className="featuredDropClass";
             }
             //this.options.getElement(this.options.length).addClass("listBold");
             //selectElement.css('listbold');
           }
         });
       }
     });
   }


})(jQuery);