jQuery(document).ready(function() {
 // hides the slickbox as soon as the DOM is ready (a little sooner that page load)
jQuery('#columnistsbox').show();
jQuery('#showit').hide();
  
 // shows and hides and toggles the slickbox on click  
jQuery('#slick-show').click(function() {
jQuery('#columnistsbox').show('slow');
jQuery('#showit').hide();
    return false;
  });
jQuery('#slick-hide').click(function() {
jQuery('#columnistsbox').hide('fast');
jQuery('#showit').show();
    return false;
  });
jQuery('#slick-toggle').click(function() {
jQuery('#columnistsbox').toggle(400);
    return false;
  });

 // slides down, up, and toggle the slickbox on click    
jQuery('#slick-down').click(function() {
jQuery('#columnistsbox').slideDown('slow');
    return false;
  });
jQuery('#slick-up').click(function() {
jQuery('#columnistsbox').slideUp('fast');
    return false;
  });
jQuery('#slick-slidetoggle').click(function() {
jQuery('#columnistsbox').slideToggle(400);
    return false;
  });
});