Actually, I had figured out a solution almost like what you've got here after your Twitter replies. Here's what I used to make it work:
$(".slideshow ul").each(function() { e = $(this); p = $("p.controls", $(this).parent()); e.cycle( { fx: "fade", speed: 500, timeout: 0, next: $("a:last-child", p), prev: $("a:first-child", p) }); }); I don't like adding classes and IDs unless it's absolutely necessary, if you couldn't tell from my initial post. Thanks for the help and the immediate response!