Thursday, 20-Nov-2008 01:43:03 CST
All Pages
• Recommended browsers:
For best viewing experience, use a recent civilized browser such as Firefox, Safari, Seamonkey, or similar. If you must use MS Internet Explorer, upgrade to the current version (presumably IE7 or newer). The builtin browsers in recent PDAs and phones are usually adequate but may not support all features.
• Static background:
The brick wall used as background should remain static while you scroll up and down the page. That feature may not work properly with some browsers.
• Favicon:
If you are using a Firefox-family browser, you will see an animated favicon instead of the static one. If you don't know what a favicon is, don't worry and move on. Users of Mobile Safari (iPhone and related "touch" devices) who boookmark this site will see a custom "WebClip" graphic.
• Timestamp:
At the bottom left of the header image, the current date and time are displayed.
• OPEN sign:
Whenever the Sauna is open for business, the subtle "OPEN" sign at the top right corner of the header image gets turned on (glows red and blinks). Clicking on the sign always goes to the "Info" page.
• Overlays:
On most pages, you might see a semi-transparent "floating" overlay announcing the special of the day or some similar reminder.
• Watermark:
Most pages have a semi-transparent background picture of the Sauna "under" the text.
• Footer:
At the bottom of each page is a footer showing when the page source was last updated on the server, along with a copyright reminder and our "SUDO CUM SOCII" motto. For no particular reason, clicking on the Latin motto will load a random page from our site (very possibly one you didn't know existed). Clicking on the "
![[help]](images/help.gif){kind=small}
" icon at the bottom right of the footer on most pages will take you to the relevant section of this page.
• Menu:
At the top and bottom of each page is a menu from which you can go to the other pages. Moving the mouse over a menu entry will cause that entry to change color. Click to go to that page. When the "Guestbook" entry is red instead of the usual black, it means that at least one new comment was posted today.
• Headings:
The heading text has shadows when viewed in a compliant browser (this does NOT include MS Internet Explorer).
• Go Home:
Clicking on the header image from any page always returns you to the Home (index) page. You will also be automatically redirected to the Home page from any page after 5 minutes.
• Tools:
Apache server on a Linux box, a text editor (BBEdit), Photoshop Elements, a pinch of Perl, a jigger of Javascript, and a heap of HTML coding on a Mac laptop. All features are implemented without resorting to Micros*ft, Flash, Java, ActiveX, popups or cookies.
![[top]](images/smarrow.gif){kind=small}
Home (index) Page
• News:
Just below the header picture, a message containing some Sauna news (schedule change, specials, etc.) may appear.
• Random banner:
Above the bottom menu, you'll see a randomly-generated banner containing either some "Sauna Trivia" or a not-so-subtle "come on in" message. To display a different banner, reload the page.
• Greeting:
The custom "Good morning/afternoon/evening" greeting is dynamically generated each time the page is loaded.
• Attendant:
At the bottom of the left column, you may see a small message indicating who your attentant is (when we're open) or will be (the next day), just in case it matters to you.
• Man:
As you and I would, the man in the right hand column blinks every so often.
• Mini panels:
The small panels at the bottom display different messages depending on the day of the week and the current temperature.
Info Page
• Weather:
The current downtown Duluth weather (Sky Harbor Airport on Park Point) is displayed via a Perl script that directly reads and parses NOAA's National Weather Service hourly bulletins.
• Webcams:
The main image should display and refresh automatically every 15-30 seconds. If the image is missing or seems static, try refreshing the page. Webcam sites tend to be very fickle and those links may not be active at all times.
• Calendar:
The calendar starts with the current month. Click on the arrows on either side of the date display to quickly show the next or previous month.
• Random banner:
Above the bottom menu, you'll see a randomly-generated banner containing either some "Sauna Trivia" or a not-so-subtle "come on in" message. To display a different banner, reload the page.
Specials Page
• Day-specific:
The wording of the various specials may vary depending on the day of the week ("today!", "tomorrow!", etc.). Since it's Perl-generated on the server, this feature is browser-independent.
• Strobe:
A spinning strobe light is displayed next to the special(s) currently in effect.
Location Page
• Directions:
Clicking on the camera icon will open a new window with a picture of the Sauna taken from Superior Street, making it easy for you to find us.
• Distances:
Mileage is approximate, from city center to city center, using the most common route. Click on the city name to open a new window with MapQuest directions and maps.
• GPS:
Use the coordinates provided, or download a POI file for GoogleEarth (".kmz"), Garmin (".gpi") or TomTom (".ov2").
• External links:
All external links open in separate windows over which we have no control.
Guestbook Page
• Chatroom (basic):
The chatroom is very primitive but functional. It works best if you make prior arrangements with someone else to "meet in the Sauna chatroom" at a specific time. No monitoring, logging, or filtering takes place, and you can feel free to express yourself as explicitely as you want. If you don't pick a nickname, one will be assigned to you as "GUESTnnnn". When you enter the room, you will see a list of other people (if any) currently in the chatroom. Type your message and hit the "Say" button or press the ENTER/RETURN key to send it to the room. To exit, simply close the window.
• Chatroom (advanced):
If you're familiar with IRC chatrooms, note that a few simple commands are implemented here: • /msg <nickname> <message> • /nick <newnick> • /me <action> (same as hitting the "Act" buton) • /whois <nickname> - get info on a user • /away <message> - mark yourself as away • /back - nullify away status • /quit - exit chat.
• RSS:
The guestbook comments are also available via a pseudo-RSS feed. Click on the "RSS" icon to subscribe. It is solely intended for use with NetNewsWire and NOT expected to validate under RSS/XML standards, but if it happens to work with your newsreader or aggregator, please let me know. If you don't know what RSS is, ignore this entire paragraph.
• Scrolling:
The guestbook entries are listed in reverse chronological older with the most recent first. If all goes well, you should see a vertical scrollbar to navigate to the end (oldest) entry. Even browsers that don't support scrolling should still show all entries, but if yours doesn't, please let us know.
• Counts:
The display of the spelled out number of comments (total/monhly/daily) at the very top of the scroll region is the completely gratuitous by-product of some tricky obscure Perl programming testing.
• Comments:
The comments are automatically pre-screened when submitted, but may also be reviewed (and removed!) manually after the fact. Inappropriate content is deleted. The email addresses and URLs optionally provided by the posters are not validated. If your comment seems to have disappeared, please email us.
• Archives:
Only the last 50-100 comments or so are directly available. Older comments are archived but can still be accessed from the link at the bottom of the active entries.
Add Comment (addguest) Page
• Security:
Since guestbooks are heavily targeted by "spammers", that page includes extensive "security" measures. The page can only be accessed from within our site. Specific IP addresses are banned from access. All activities on that page (including errors) are logged.
• Identity:
At the bottom of the page, you might see a panel displaying your current IP, ISP, and other information provided by your browser. That data is logged internally but not made public in any way.
• Rejected:
Unless you correctly answer the simple "math test" and provide both some comment text and a name (or nickname), the entry will be rejected. You will be given a chance to correct the error, clear the form, or return to the Guestbook.
• Accepted:
When your comment is accepted, you will be returned to the Guestbook page (you might need to refresh to see your new comment).
Gallery Page
• Thumbnails:
Click on a thumbnail to see the corresponding full-size (500x375) picture. If your browser doesn't display the pictures, try the "LOW TECH" link at the bottom of the page.
• Background:
The initial picture used as background was stitched together from a badly mangled black and white period photograph.
• Pictures:
To minimize bandwith usage, we use relatively low resolution pictures, but they should suffice to give you an idea of what to expect. For a clearer view, come visit the Sauna!
FAQ Page
• Arrows:
The animated red arrow pointer may not be able to keep up with cursor movements or may not appear at all on some configurations, but it can be safely ignored.
• Answers:
The "
" link after each answer takes you back to the list of questions.
• Cartoon:
The chubby guy’s eyes move.
Links Page
• Listings:
All links point to external sites over which we have no control. If you would like your business or organization listed, please contact us.
This (secrets) Page
• Toweled guy:
The header image is an animated GIF. Every minute, the frame containing the actual picture of the man is displayed briefly.
• Sound:
With most browsers, you've probably heard it by now. Pathetically cheesy, I know, but I couldn't resist...
• Navigation:
Clicking on most page names (headers) takes you to that page. The "
" icon in each section takes you to the top of the page.