/**
* Basic usage (Most common settings. {no max blinks = blink indefinitely, blinkDuration ~1 sec, no callback}):
*
* $('selector').blink();
*
* Advanced usage:
*
* $('selector').blink({maxBlinks: 60, blinkPeriod: 1000, speed: 'slow', onMaxBlinks: function(){}, onBlink: function(){}});
*/

(function ($) {
    $.fn.blink = function (options) {

        var settings = {
            maxBlinks: undefined,
            blinkPeriod: 1000,
            onMaxBlinks: function () { },
            onBlink: function (i) { },
            speed: undefined
        };

        if (options) {
            $.extend(settings, options);
        }

        var blinkElem = this;
        var on = true;
        var blinkCount = 0;
        settings.speed = settings.speed ? settings.speed : settings.blinkPeriod / 2;

        /* The function that does the actual fading. */
        (function toggleFade() {
            var maxBlinksReached = false;
            if (on) {
                blinkElem.fadeTo(settings.speed, 0.01);
            } else {
                blinkCount++;
                maxBlinksReached = (settings.maxBlinks && (blinkCount >= settings.maxBlinks));
                blinkElem.fadeTo(settings.speed, 1, function () {
                    settings.onBlink.call(blinkElem, blinkCount);
                    if (maxBlinksReached) {
                        settings.onMaxBlinks.call();
                    }
                });
            }
            on = !on;

            if (!maxBlinksReached) {
                setTimeout(toggleFade, settings.blinkPeriod / 2); // #3
            }
        })();

        return this; // Returning 'this' to maintain chainability.
    };
})(jQuery);