Added a photo banner and consolidated menu items

[up10ad]

My site has been basically the same for over three years without any major changes.  Recently I cleaned up all the code to make it HTML 4.01 Transitional compliant, which required rewrites of a lot of sloppy HTML.  I changed the way I present video, added mobile detection, hidden <div> overlays for some links, and made better use of valid CSS.  Now my testing shows it is almost perfectly cross-browser compatible for IE 7-9, Firefox, Chrome and Safari, and passes the W3C compliance tests.  I'm really happy with the results.

Yesterday I added a photo background to my banner and I think the color adds a lot to the site. My menu structure was also getting a bit large so I consolidated all the data elements into one submenu which significantly reduced the main menu choices.  I like it. 

[skysummit]

Very nice!  I love the background banner image you have chosen.

[LFWX]

Very nice!  I love the background banner image you have chosen.

I agree.
This is something that is still missing on my site...maybe some day soon, there's an old long cabin down the street (discovered inside a home when it was about to be demolished) that would work well.

[jay_hoehn]

Rick,

Looks great!  I like the icons in the menu also.

Jay

[Garth Bock]

Awesome job ! I love the camera controls and the weather audio. 

[up10ad]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate all the supportive comments. 

[LFWX]

Rick

I just noticed your using the VWS images for your "Comfort Level" & "Wind Description", as I once did.

Here's an alternate method using java script (I'm sure something similar could be done with PHP)

VWS seemed to skip some descriptions.
 I use the 5 minute average THW Index (running average tag, set at 5 minute time span) to create a variable "comfortindex" - descriptions will vary by region, create your own.

Code:

<script language="JavaScript">

var thwavg = Math.round(^vva165^); //THW Index 5 minute average rounded off

<!--comfort index-->
if (thwavg < -15) {comfortindex = "Dangerously Cold";}
else if (thwavg < 0) {comfortindex = "Extremely Uncomfortably Cold";}
else if (thwavg < 10) {comfortindex = "Very Uncomfortably Cold";}
else if (thwavg < 20) {comfortindex = "Uncomfortably Cold";}
else if (thwavg < 40) {comfortindex = "Cold";}
else if (thwavg < 45) {comfortindex = "Very Cool";}
else if (thwavg < 60) {comfortindex = "Cool";}
else if (thwavg < 80) {comfortindex = "Comfortable";}
else if (thwavg < 85) {comfortindex = "Warm";}
else if (thwavg < 90) {comfortindex = "Very Warm";}
else if (thwavg < 95) {comfortindex = "Hot";}
else if (thwavg < 100) {comfortindex = "Uncomfortably Hot";}
else if (thwavg < 110) {comfortindex = "Extremely Hot";}
else {comfortindex = "Dangerously Hot";}

</script>

Script for wind description using the 5 minute average wind speed to create a variable "winddescrip"

Code:

<script language="JavaScript">

var averagewind = ^vva002^; //5 minute average wind speed


<!--average wind speed description-->
if (averagewind > 73) {winddescrip = "Hurricane";}
else if (averagewind > 63) {winddescrip = "Violent Storm";}
else if (averagewind > 54) {winddescrip = "Storm";}
else if (averagewind > 46) {winddescrip = "Strong Gale";}
else if (averagewind > 38) {winddescrip = "Gale";}
else if (averagewind > 31) {winddescrip = "Near Gale";}
else if (averagewind > 24) {winddescrip = "Strong Breeze";}
else if (averagewind > 18) {winddescrip = "Fresh Breeze";}
else if (averagewind > 12) {winddescrip = "Moderate Breeze";}
else if (averagewind > 7) {winddescrip = "Gentle Breeze";}
else if (averagewind > 3) {winddescrip = "Light Breeze";}
else if (averagewind > 0) {winddescrip = "Light Air";}

</script>

Or just Right Click - View Source to see a multitude of variables

[up10ad]

Thanks for the expanded info, I may move beyond the standard VWS 7 comfort levels.  I like your Easter script, with your permission I'll add it for my visitors.

Thanbks.