Hey. Yea. It's the way Wordpress loads scripts to remove the problem of duplication and clashes between libraries.

have a look here:

http://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/wp_enqueue_script

or just wrap your jQuery in this document ready, instead of the default:

jQuery(document).ready(function($) {

Yes.

If you have a read through the page I linked it might make a little more sense too :)

and here too:

http://digwp.com/2009/06/including-jquery-in-wordpress-the-right-way/

I've always replaced every single "$" with "jQuery" and it's always worked beautifully (so for instance in your example, the 2nd $ in your line would also have to be changed to jQuery). I wonder if changing to $j would be a better way to go??

I have been staring at this one for some time now. Checking the script from 'DOM ready', comparing the scripts (and CSS :-) ). But now I have found it!!!

HTML 5 data- Attributes

As of jQuery 1.4.3 HTML 5 data- attributes will be automatically pulled in to jQuery's data object.

You are including 1.4.2, so the 'data-pos' HTML attribute is ignored. So, either include a newer version of jquery or change:

jQuery("#mover").css("left", -($el.data("pos") * speed - 40));

to:

jQuery("#mover").css("left", -($el.attr("data-pos") * speed - 40));

BTW You can use '$' to reference jquery while inside the :

jQuery(document).ready(function($) {
}

I also don't think you need to use the no-conflict mode of jquery. If you are still loading the script via the deregister/register scripting in the 'function.php', as it unloads Wordpress's warped version of jQuery (but leaves the original jQuery for admin pages!).

I could be wrong, on all accounts - but I have learnt a few things while playing :-p

Yes! Thanks Clokey! Good things will happen to you this week.

I wonder why the following code pulls an older JQ library? Seems like it would pull the newest.
<?php wp_enqueue_script("jquery"); ?>

It just links locally by default because WP comes "supplied" with a copy of jQuery.

http://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/wp_enqueue_script#Example

Shows how to pull it from the CDN :)