function initAccordion(){

		var menuBoxes = $$('.menuBox');
		var boxBits;
		menuBoxes.each(function(node){
		
			boxBits = $(node).childElements();
			if (boxBits.length < 2) return;
			if ($(node) != $(selected)){
				$(boxBits[1]).hide();
				// puts the disclosure triangle in tue "up" position
				$(boxBits[0]).addClassName('menuTitle_up');
			}
				$(boxBits[0]).observe('click',updateAccordion);
		});
	}

	
	function updateAccordion(event){
		var element = event.element(); // the heading or a nested tag from within the menuBox

		// find the parent node that has the proper class name -- that's the menuBox
		var ancestors = element.ancestors(); 
		var menuBox = ancestors.find(function(ancestor){
			if ($(ancestor).hasClassName("menuBox")){
				return true;	
			}else{
				return false;	
			}
		});
	
		var boxBits, menuItems;
	
		boxBits = $(menuBox).childElements();
		menuItems = $(boxBits[1]).childElements()[0].childElements();
		
		if ($(boxBits[0]).hasClassName('menuTitle_up')){
			$(boxBits[0]).removeClassName('menuTitle_up');
			Effect.BlindDown($(boxBits[1]),{duration:(0.1 * menuItems.length)});
		}else{
			$(boxBits[0]).addClassName('menuTitle_up');
			Effect.BlindUp($(boxBits[1]),{duration:(0.1 * menuItems.length)});
		}
			
	}