 			// has the user dragged the item far enough to initiate a delete/complete?
 			deleteOnDragRelease = frame.origin.x < -frame.size.width / 2.0
 			completeOnDragRelease = frame.origin.x > frame.size.width / 2.0
+
+			// fade the contextual clues
+			let cueAlpha = fabs(frame.origin.x) / (frame.size.width / 2.0)
+			tickLabel.alpha = cueAlpha
+			crossLabel.alpha = cueAlpha
+
+			// indicate when the user has pulled the item far enough to invoke the given action
+			tickLabel.textColor = completeOnDragRelease ? UIColor.greenColor() : UIColor.whiteColor()
+			crossLabel.textColor = deleteOnDragRelease ? UIColor.redColor() : UIColor.whiteColor()
 		}
 
 		// 3

		label.font = UIFont.boldSystemFontOfSize(16)
		label.backgroundColor = UIColor.clearColor()

		super.init(style: style, reuseIdentifier: reuseIdentifier)

		// set up the strike through text label
		addSubview(label)
		// remove the default blue highlight for selected cells
		selectionStyle = .None



	// Whether to drag on release AND whether to complete on release - the left/right pan gesture results
	var deleteOnDragRelease = false, completeOnDragRelease = false

	// Labels to add contextual clues for actions
	var tickLabel: UILabel, crossLabel: UILabel

	// For strike through text
	let label: StrikeThroughText
