This page has been validated by the World Wide Web Consortium validator. That means that it is valid XHTML 1.0 Ready.
i had planned to make the page IE8 ready, but I can't validate the CSS until I update my Javascript libraries. Updating the libraries are going to take some time because much of the functionality and syntax has change in them and I need to change the code on my pages to conform to them.
Note: This is the only page I've validated XHTML ready, so far. I will be going through the rest of the site in the next week. If you are a IE8 user and you run across a page that doesn't render correctly, hit the compatibility button on your browser's toolbar, and the page should reload fine. I'll validate the rest of the pages as soon as possible. You can tell if a page has been certified valid by the W3C logo at the bottom of the page, like the one at the bottom of this page.
Once I update the Javascript, I will be able to validate the CSS for 2.1 standards and the pages will be IE8 ready. Until then IE8 users may need to use your "Compatibility Mode" button on your address bar and reload misbehaving pages. Or better yet, you can switch to a more secure and better Internet Browser: Firefox.
I have recompiled some of my videos to high definition and moved them to the Granite Labor Channel on YouTube. There four new videos up there now. A new one never seen before, a short 2 minute video of the Sperry/Iverson mine on the Mt Loop. The other three are in a playlist called Exploring The Mountain Loop. It is my famous movie of sites on the mountain, and is split into three parts. More will be added presently. Note: These are best viewed in full screen mode.
I need subscribers. Please go to the Granite Labor Channel at http://youtube.com/granitelabor and rate and leave a comment and subscribe to my channel.
Some benefits of having videos served by YouTube is that they stream better, I can use High Definition, and Videos can be arranged better using playlists. Also, there is more opportunity for user feed back using ratings and comments. The only minor down-side is that video uploads are limited to 2GB and can't be longer than 10 minutes (about 10:30 actually), but that's no big deal.
I prefer you go to the Granite Labor Channel, but if you prefer you can see the video directly with this link.
As you can see, one of the changes is the new PhoneFun Logo, but there is more. The version number has been updated to 2.4.
PhoneFun allows you to output phone-pad acronym combinations in either HTML or PDF format. I have rewritten the script that outputs the PDF format from the ground up using a new PHP PDF class. It's much easier to write and maintain than the old class I used. For the user, you will notice that you have all of the detailed information that the HTML output has, and the output renders in a nice table. The pages have page numbers.
I plan to do more with PhoneFun soon. Like add support for area codes, and I am going to remake the help video and help text. I will also be using the new video format to render the streaming help video.
New Pages: I have changed most pages back to html and discontinued the User Login and Registration, and User Sessions. I am also working on new Video Players and other enhancements to the site.
Faster Loading: Most pages should load a bit faster since they don't have to do a bunch of includes or check and set cookies, etc., anymore. I decided to drop this stuff because very few people ever logged into the site since there was really no reason to. The only restricted content was Old-Time Radio programs downloads, which is open now. I may still restrict these in the future, but that will be all and you won't have to be logged into the rest of the site.
New Video Players: I am in the process of implementing the FlowPlayer video platform. The old Coffee Cup players look nice but are too restrictive. For instance, you can't view in full screen and they have limited custom options. The new player is really nice and I will probably be using the Jquery library to enhance other parts of the site. I'll have to see how it goes; I may replace some of the XDHTML library with Jquery in places. Right now, the DHTMLX javascript library controls most windows and all grids and tabs on the site...also the menu.
PhoneFun PDF Output Back Up: I have rewritten the PDF output script (using a new PHP pdf class) for PhoneFun and it is back up. Actually, I am still working on it as it is not recognizing if line numbers are shut off. Other than this, which is no big deal, and the look of it, it will work fine in PDF mode. I will be completely done with it in a couple of days.
One note about PhoneFun's new PDF output compared to the old one: It should have all the text details that the HTML output provides, so it will be just as informative.
Running Into Snafus: It's quite an undertaking to make all of these changes since this site consist of many, many pages. There may be a bug or broken link here or there until I can check it all. You can be of great help if you run into something not working right, by sending me a quick and easy note in Feedback or Email. Both are located in the Contact menu above. The quicker I know of any problems, the quicker I can fix them.
IE8 Users: If you use Internet Explorer 8.x and you find a page that doesn't load completely or has some other problem, often you can hit your "compatibility button" on your address bar, and that will fix the problem. Please let me know if you have to do this on any pages, so I can address the issue.
Back To Work: It's been quite a while since I have done anything on the site. It feels like I'm starting to get into development mode. Donations to the site definitely help motivate me, but I plan on getting a few things done around here, not the less.
PhoneFun Acronym Generator Being Updated: PhoneFun will work faster as I am splitting the code for the HTML and PDF outputs, respectively. Both engines used to be in the same script, now the will work independently.
The PDF output option is currently disabled because I am going to use a different pdf class, which will give me more control over the look of the output and may speed it up a bit.
I will probably upgrade the whole program so that folks can do their area codes together with their phone numbers, rather than having to do it separately, as it is now. Although the concept is simple, writing the code may not be, so I'm not sure how long this will take. In any case, the PDF Output option will be up soon, and of course, the HTML Output option works now.
Login Not Needed For OTR File Lister: You have always been able to listen to Old Time Radio programs with the streaming player. For a while, you had to be logged in if you wanted to get to the file listings of Program Groups, in order to download the MP3's. You no longer have to do that. I'll see how it goes. If there is no abuse I may keep it this way. Note: In the listing it is possible to rate individual episodes and also add descriptions for episodes that have none. Users are encouraged to add descriptions of episode you listen to. It will help other users, and after all, isn't that what it's all about?
Check out the Granite Labor Video Tour to get a look at what the new video player looks like. Currently, this is the only one that uses the new player, but I am hard at work converting all other players on the site to this one.
I'm sorry that the quality of the video sucks. That is because I did a rush job on it and it didn't scale well. I will be making a much better version very soon. Anyway, you can see how the new player looks.
As you will see, the new player has a larger view port and can be played in Full Screen mode. Also, the playlist is external and scrollable, and you can toggle play/pause with them or use the player control bar..
I've added some good programs that I use, in the downloads library. All the new ones are in the Utilities category except one. It is under Misc.
Among these are: The best Vista compatible freeware Backup Utility (Cobian-given 5 stars by Cnet), ID3 Tag Editor (a really good one) and RocketDock, a program/document launcher (very useful). The one under Misc is a color picker, ColorPic.
I'm starting to work on the site a bit more. Of course, I could be motivated if I could get some donations. Oh well.
I've removed the AudioBooks tab from the Media Selector page. They can now be found under the Music/Audio tab.
It seems the audio books page was not working right since the transfer to the new provider. I will get the older books back up in due time. Currently, there are two new recordings in the AudioBooks section. One is the Alvin The Scrooge recording... the same one that is listed above, but this one is permanant. The other is another production I made in 1986 called Meditation/Sleep Aid. It is as the name implies, a relaxation recording.
You can use the built-in player to listen to these now. I will add download links soon.
You must check out the new Services page (under the "Information" menu). The new page has tabs so you can check out computer services and general labor service that Joe provides to folks in Granite Falls, WA. It also has a tab that contains reviews and recommendations from Granite Labor customers.
The page works fine but it is not finished. Some pictures still need to be added, as well as more content. That said, it is officially open today, so have a look.
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