var VisualEffects = {
  
  highlight: function(el, duration) {
    var highlightColor = "#FFFF8A";
    el = $(el);
    duration = duration || 1000;
    var tween = new Fx.Color(el, "background-color", {duration: duration, transition: Fx.Transitions.sineOut });
    
    var restoreBgColor = el.style.backgroundColor;
    var curBgColor = el.getStyle("background-color");
    if (curBgColor.match(/rgb/i)) {
      curBgColor = curBgColor.rgbToHex();
    }
   
    if (!curBgColor.match(/transparent/i)) {
      tween.custom(highlightColor, curBgColor);
      if (el.id) {
        setTimeout("$('" + el.id + "').style.backgroundColor = '" + restoreBgColor + "'", duration + 250);
      }
    }
  }
  
}