title: jQuery: can the empty() method be given a duration?
body: <p>In jQuery, can the empty() method be given a duration, such that the object fades to empty over a period of time (for example, 500 milliseconds)?</p>
  
  <p>Here is the current code:</p>
  
  <pre><code>$('#object_to_be_emptied').empty();
  </code></pre>