gistfile1.js

var rightpanel = $('rightpanel');
var leftpanel = $('leftpanel');
var stories = rightpanel.select('h3').each(function(elm){
  elm['link'] = elm.down('a').href;
  elm['description'] = elm.next('p').insert(
    ' <a href="' + this.link + '">read more</a>'
  ).remove();
  elm.update(elm.down('a').innerHTML).setStyle('cursor:pointer');;
  elm.remove();
});
stories.each(function(story){
  leftpanel.insert(story);
  story.observe('click',function(evt){
    rightpanel.update(this.clone(true)).insert(
      this.description
    );
    stories.invoke('removeClassName','active');
    story.addClassName('active');
  });
});
//choose random story to feature first
var story = stories[Math.floor(Math.random() * stories.length)];
rightpanel.update(story.clone(true)).insert(
  story.description
);
story.addClassName('active');