diff --git a/Timeline/Audio_Sequence.C b/Timeline/Audio_Sequence.C
index 61279e9..7c2f2e3 100644
--- a/Timeline/Audio_Sequence.C
+++ b/Timeline/Audio_Sequence.C
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ Audio_Sequence::draw ( void )
 /*                 if ( o->x() == (*r)->x() && o->w() == (*r)->w() ) */
 /*                     printf( "complete superposition\n" ); */
 
-                if ( (*r)->x() >= o->x() && (*r)->x() + (*r)->w() <= o->x() + o->w() )
+                if ( o->contains( *r ) )
                     /* completely inside */
                     continue;
 
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ Audio_Sequence::draw ( void )
             if ( *o <= **r )
             {
 
-                if ( (*r)->x() >= o->x() && (*r)->x() + (*r)->w() <= o->x() + o->w() )
+                if ( o->contains( *r ) )
                     /* completely inside */
                     continue;
 
diff --git a/Timeline/Sequence.C b/Timeline/Sequence.C
index 58195c7..ff5f8ba 100644
--- a/Timeline/Sequence.C
+++ b/Timeline/Sequence.C
@@ -101,14 +101,13 @@ Sequence::overlaps ( Sequence_Widget *r )
     for ( list <Sequence_Widget *>::const_iterator i = _widgets.begin(); i != _widgets.end(); i++ )
     {
         if ( *i == r ) continue;
-        if ( ! ( (*i)->start() > r->start() + r->length() || (*i)->start() + (*i)->length() < r->start() ) )
+        if ( (*i)->overlaps( r ) )
             return *i;
     }
 
     return NULL;
 }
 
-
 void
 Sequence::draw ( void )
 {
diff --git a/Timeline/Sequence_Widget.H b/Timeline/Sequence_Widget.H
index 640ad3c..4e93b47 100644
--- a/Timeline/Sequence_Widget.H
+++ b/Timeline/Sequence_Widget.H
@@ -314,6 +314,21 @@ public:
 
     int active_r ( void ) const { return _sequence->active_r(); }
 
+
+
+
+/** returns true if widget /w/ begins and ends completely within the range of this widget */
+    bool contains ( const Sequence_Widget *w ) const
+        {
+            return w->start() >= start() && w->start() + w->length() <= start() + length();
+        }
+
+/** returns true of widget /w/ overlaps this widget in any place */
+    bool overlaps ( const Sequence_Widget *w ) const
+        {
+            return ! ( w->start() > start() + length() || w->start() + w->length() < start() );
+        }
+
     virtual Fl_Boxtype box ( void ) const { return FL_UP_BOX; }
     virtual Fl_Align align ( void ) const { return (Fl_Align)0; }