/**
     * This function is used to animate the given feature to the given
     * location. Valid locations are "left", "right", "center", "hidden"
     */
    var animateFeature = function($feature, direction)
    {
      var new_width, new_height, new_top, new_left, new_zindex, new_padding, new_fade;

      // Determine the old and new positions of the feature
      var oldPosition = $feature.data('position');
      var newPosition;
      if (direction == true)
        newPosition = getPreviousNum(oldPosition);
      else
        newPosition = getNextNum(oldPosition);

      // callback for moving out of center pos
      if (oldPosition == 1) {
        options.leavingCenter($feature);
      }

      // Caculate new new css values depending on where the feature will be located
      if (newPosition == 1) {
        new_width = pluginData.largeFeatureWidth;
        new_height = pluginData.largeFeatureHeight;
        new_top = options.topPadding;
        new_zindex = $feature.css("z-index");
        new_left = (pluginData.containerWidth / 2) - (pluginData.largeFeatureWidth / 2) - (pluginData.borderWidth / 2);
        new_fade = 1.0;
        $feature.addClass("featSlide");
      } else {
        new_width = pluginData.smallFeatureWidth;
        new_height = pluginData.smallFeatureHeight;
        new_top = options.smallFeatureOffset + options.topPadding;
        new_zindex = 1;
        new_fade = 0.4;
        $feature.removeClass("featSlide");
        $feature.addClass("featSlide");

        // some info is different for the left, right, and hidden positions
        // left
        if (newPosition == pluginData.totalFeatureCount) {
          new_left = options.sidePadding;

        // right
        } else if (newPosition == 2) {
          new_left = pluginData.containerWidth - pluginData.smallFeatureWidth - options.sidePadding - pluginData.borderWidth;
        // hidden
        } else {
          new_left = (pluginData.containerWidth / 2) - (pluginData.smallFeatureWidth / 2) - (pluginData.borderWidth / 2);
          new_fade = 0;
        }
      }
      // This code block takes care of hiding the feature information if the feature is leaving the center
      if (oldPosition == 1) {
        // Slide up the story information
        $feature.find(".carousel-caption")
          .hide();
      }