The problem is caused by a timing issue with applying the styles and anything else as mentioned by Stephen. The problem is, things aren't settled by the time I try to fire the first fade in so I triggered that with window.onload=slogan_fade_next;
. Everything has settled in by the time my first element has done its thing.
I've given absolutely no more thought to this other than "it works" and I'm sure I'll come up with a better way to do this.