diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index fa46d25..04cc324 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -3,5 +3,5 @@ project( MotionWatch )
 find_package( OpenCV REQUIRED )
 set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS} -std=c++20 -pthread")
 include_directories( ${OpenCV_INCLUDE_DIRS} )
-add_executable( mow src/main.cpp src/common.cpp src/mo_detect.cpp src/web.cpp )
+add_executable( mow src/main.cpp src/common.cpp src/mo_detect.cpp src/web.cpp src/logger.cpp )
 target_link_libraries( mow ${OpenCV_LIBS} )
diff --git a/src/common.cpp b/src/common.cpp
index 5f30676..f590acd 100644
--- a/src/common.cpp
+++ b/src/common.cpp
@@ -114,7 +114,12 @@ vector<string> lsDirsInDir(const string &path)
         {
             if (ent->d_type & DT_DIR)
             {
-                names.push_back(string(ent->d_name));
+                auto name = string(ent->d_name);
+
+                if ((name != "..") || (name != "."))
+                {
+                    names.push_back(name);
+                }
             }
         }
 
@@ -210,17 +215,22 @@ bool rdConf(shared_t *share)
         share->postCmd.clear();
         share->buffDir.clear();
 
+        share->retCode     = 0;
         share->frameGap    = 10;
         share->pixThresh   = 30;
         share->imgThresh   = 512;
         share->secs        = 60;
         share->maxDays     = 15;
         share->maxClips    = 30;
+        share->maxLogLines = 1000;
         share->camName     = path(share->conf.c_str()).filename();
-        share->outDir      = "/var/www/hmtl";
+        share->webRoot     = "/var/www/html";
         share->vidExt      = "mp4";
         share->recLoopWait = false;
         share->skipCmd     = false;
+        share->webBg       = "#485564";
+        share->webTxt      = "#dee5ee";
+        share->webFont     = "courier";
 
         do
         {
@@ -230,7 +240,10 @@ bool rdConf(shared_t *share)
             {
                 rdLine("cam_name = ",         line, &share->camName);
                 rdLine("recording_stream = ", line, &share->recordUrl);
-                rdLine("output_dir = ",       line, &share->outDir);
+                rdLine("web_root = ",         line, &share->webRoot);
+                rdLine("web_text = ",         line, &share->webTxt);
+                rdLine("web_bg = ",           line, &share->webBg);
+                rdLine("web_font = ",         line, &share->webFont);
                 rdLine("post_cmd = ",         line, &share->postCmd);
                 rdLine("duration = ",         line, &share->secs);
                 rdLine("buff_dir = ",         line, &share->buffDir);
@@ -239,12 +252,16 @@ bool rdConf(shared_t *share)
                 rdLine("img_thresh = ",       line, &share->imgThresh);
                 rdLine("max_days = ",         line, &share->maxDays);
                 rdLine("max_clips = ",        line, &share->maxClips);
+                rdLine("max_log_lines = ",    line, &share->maxLogLines);
                 rdLine("vid_container = ",    line, &share->vidExt);
             }
 
         } while(!line.empty());
 
-        share->outDir = cleanDir(share->outDir) + "/" + share->camName;
+        share->outDir = cleanDir(share->webRoot) + "/" + share->camName;
+
+        createDirTree(cleanDir(share->buffDir));
+        createDirTree(share->outDir);
 
         if (share->init)
         {
@@ -252,11 +269,6 @@ bool rdConf(shared_t *share)
 
             share->init = false;
         }
-
-        createDirTree(cleanDir(share->buffDir));
-        createDirTree(share->outDir);
-
-        share->retCode = 0;
     }
 
     varFile.close();
diff --git a/src/common.h b/src/common.h
index 675779c..729dab6 100644
--- a/src/common.h
+++ b/src/common.h
@@ -36,28 +36,36 @@ using namespace cv;
 using namespace std;
 using namespace std::filesystem;
 
-#define APP_VER  "1.5.t2"
+#define APP_VER  "1.5.t3"
 #define APP_NAME "Motion Watch"
 
 struct shared_t
 {
-    string recordUrl;
-    string outDir;
-    string postCmd;
-    string conf;
-    string buffDir;
-    string vidExt;
-    string camName;
-    bool   init;
-    bool   recLoopWait;
-    bool   skipCmd;
-    int    frameGap;
-    int    pixThresh;
-    int    imgThresh;
-    int    secs;
-    int    maxDays;
-    int    maxClips;
-    int    retCode;
+    vector<string> recLogLines;
+    vector<string> detLogLines;
+    string         recordUrl;
+    string         outDir;
+    string         postCmd;
+    string         conf;
+    string         buffDir;
+    string         vidExt;
+    string         camName;
+    string         webBg;
+    string         webTxt;
+    string         webFont;
+    string         webRoot;
+    bool           init;
+    bool           recLoopWait;
+    bool           logRun;
+    bool           skipCmd;
+    int            frameGap;
+    int            pixThresh;
+    int            imgThresh;
+    int            secs;
+    int            maxDays;
+    int            maxClips;
+    int            maxLogLines;
+    int            retCode;
 };
 
 string         genDstFile(const string &dirOut, const char *fmt, const string &ext);
diff --git a/src/logger.cpp b/src/logger.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..152c898
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/logger.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+//    This file is part of Motion Watch.
+
+//    Motion Watch is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+//    it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+//    the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+//    (at your option) any later version.
+
+//    Motion Watch is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+//    but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+//    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+//    GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+#include "logger.h"
+
+void recLog(const string &line, shared_t *share)
+{
+    share->recLogLines.push_back(genTimeStr("[%Y-%m-%d-%H-%M-%S] ") + line + "<br>\n");
+}
+
+void detLog(const string &line, shared_t *share)
+{
+    share->detLogLines.push_back(genTimeStr("[%Y-%m-%d-%H-%M-%S] ") + line + "<br>\n");
+}
+
+void enforceMaxLogLines(vector<string> &log, shared_t *share)
+{
+    while (log.size() > share->maxLogLines)
+    {
+        log.erase(log.begin());
+    }
+}
+
+string combine(const vector<string> &log)
+{
+    string ret;
+
+    for (auto &&line : log) ret += line;
+
+    return ret;
+}
+
+void logLoop(shared_t *share)
+{
+    string htmlText = "<!DOCTYPE html>\n";
+
+    htmlText += "<html>\n";
+    htmlText += "<head>\n";
+    htmlText += "<link rel='stylesheet' href='/theme.css'>\n";
+    htmlText += "<meta http-equiv='refresh' content='10'>";
+    htmlText += "</head>\n";
+    htmlText += "<body>\n";
+    htmlText += "<p>\n";
+
+    while (share->logRun && (share->retCode == 0))
+    {
+        sleep(10);
+
+        enforceMaxLogLines(share->recLogLines, share);
+        enforceMaxLogLines(share->detLogLines, share);
+
+        auto recLogFilePath = cleanDir(share->outDir) + "/recording_log.html";
+        auto detLogFilePath = cleanDir(share->outDir) + "/detection_log.html";
+
+        ofstream recFile(recLogFilePath.c_str());
+        ofstream detFile(detLogFilePath.c_str());
+
+        recFile << htmlText << combine(share->recLogLines) << "</p>\n</body>\n</html>";
+        detFile << htmlText << combine(share->detLogLines) << "</p>\n</body>\n</html>";
+
+        recFile.close();
+        detFile.close();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/logger.h b/src/logger.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d4be579
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/logger.h
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+#ifndef lOGGER_H
+#define lOGGER_H
+
+//    This file is part of Motion Watch.
+
+//    Motion Watch is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+//    it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+//    the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+//    (at your option) any later version.
+
+//    Motion Watch is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+//    but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+//    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+//    GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+#include "common.h"
+
+void   recLog(const string &line, shared_t *share);
+void   detLog(const string &line, shared_t *share);
+void   logLoop(shared_t *share);
+void   enforceMaxLogLines(vector<string> &log, shared_t *share);
+string combine(const vector<string> &log);
+
+#endif // lOGGER_H
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 2870b6c..f5965a8 100755
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -11,9 +11,12 @@
 //    GNU General Public License for more details.
 
 #include "mo_detect.h"
+#include "logger.h"
 
 void detectLoop(shared_t *share)
 {
+    detLog("detectLoop() -- start", share);
+
     vector<string> bufFiles;
 
     do
@@ -35,10 +38,12 @@ void detectLoop(shared_t *share)
             {
                 share->skipCmd = true;
 
+                detLog("motion detected in file: " + fullPath, share);
                 wrOut(fullPath, thumbNail, share);
             }
             else
             {
+                detLog("no motion detected in file: " + fullPath + " removing it.", share);
                 remove(fullPath.c_str());
             }
         }
@@ -48,23 +53,29 @@ void detectLoop(shared_t *share)
         }
     }
     while (!bufFiles.empty());
+
+    detLog("detectLoop() -- finished", share);
 }
 
 void recLoop(shared_t *share)
 {
     while (rdConf(share))
     {
+        recLog("recLoop() -- start", share);
+
         if (!fileExists("/tmp/mow-lock"))
         {
+            recLog("/tmp/mow-lock not found, assuming it is safe to update the webroot page.", share);
+            recLog("webroot page = " + cleanDir(share->webRoot) + "/index.html", share);
             system("touch /tmp/mow-lock");
-
-            auto webRoot = path(share->outDir).parent_path().string();
-
-            genHTMLul(webRoot, string(APP_NAME) + " " + string(APP_VER));
+            genCSS(share);
+            genHTMLul(share->webRoot, string(APP_NAME) + " " + string(APP_VER), share);
             system("rm /tmp/mow-lock");
         }
-
-        createDirTree(share->buffDir);
+        else
+        {
+            recLog("/tmp/mow-lock pesent, skipping update of the webroot page.", share);
+        }
 
         auto bufPath = cleanDir(share->buffDir) + "/%03d." + share->vidExt;
         auto secs    = to_string(share->secs);
@@ -73,14 +84,24 @@ void recLoop(shared_t *share)
 
         thread th2(detectLoop, share);
 
-        if (system(cmd.c_str()) != 0)
+        recLog("detect_loop started in a seperate thread.", share);
+        recLog("ffmpeg = " + cmd, share);
+
+        auto ret = system(cmd.c_str());
+
+        if (ret == 0)
         {
+            recLog("ffmpeg_return_code = " + to_string(ret), share);
+
             share->recLoopWait = true;
 
             th2.join();
         }
         else
         {
+            recLog("ffmpeg failed, cooling down for " + to_string(share->secs) + "secs.", share);
+            recLog("ffmpeg_return_code = " + to_string(ret), share);
+
             // simulate that ffmpeg is running even after it has failed.
             sleep(share->secs);
 
@@ -89,9 +110,19 @@ void recLoop(shared_t *share)
 
         if (!share->skipCmd)
         {
+            recLog("motion not detected by detect loop.", share);
+            recLog("running post command = " + share->postCmd, share);
             system(share->postCmd.c_str());
         }
+        else
+        {
+            recLog("motion detected by detect loop, skpping the post command.", share);
+        }
+
+        recLog("recLoop() -- finished", share);
     }
+
+    share->logRun = false;
 }
 
 int main(int argc, char** argv)
@@ -122,9 +153,14 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
         sharedRes.recLoopWait = false;
         sharedRes.skipCmd     = false;
         sharedRes.init        = true;
+        sharedRes.logRun      = true;
+
+        thread th3(logLoop, &sharedRes);
 
         recLoop(&sharedRes);
 
+        th3.join();
+
         return sharedRes.retCode;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/mo_detect.cpp b/src/mo_detect.cpp
index 9d23270..15a5434 100644
--- a/src/mo_detect.cpp
+++ b/src/mo_detect.cpp
@@ -12,14 +12,16 @@
 
 #include "mo_detect.h"
 
-bool imgDiff(const Mat &prev, const Mat &next, shared_t *share)
+bool imgDiff(const Mat &prev, const Mat &next, int &diffScore, shared_t *share)
 {
     Mat diff;
 
     absdiff(prev, next, diff);
     threshold(diff, diff, share->pixThresh, 255, THRESH_BINARY);
 
-    return countNonZero(diff) >= share->imgThresh;
+    diffScore = countNonZero(diff);
+
+    return diffScore >= share->imgThresh;
 }
 
 Mat frameFF(VideoCapture *cap, int gap)
@@ -57,6 +59,10 @@ void wrOut(const string &buffFile, const Mat &vidThumb, shared_t *share)
     auto vidOut = genDstFile(outDir, timStr.c_str(), "." + share->vidExt);
     auto imgOut = genDstFile(outDir, timStr.c_str(), ".jpg");
 
+    detLog("write_out_vid: " + vidOut, share);
+    detLog("write_out_img: " + imgOut, share);
+    detLog("remove_file: " + buffFile, share);
+
     enforceMaxClips(outDir, share);
 
     copy_file(buffFile.c_str(), vidOut.c_str());
@@ -65,8 +71,8 @@ void wrOut(const string &buffFile, const Mat &vidThumb, shared_t *share)
     imwrite(imgOut.c_str(), vidThumb);
 
     genHTMLvid(vidOut, share);
-    genHTMLul(outDir, share->camName + ": " + dayStr);
-    genHTMLul(share->outDir, share->camName);
+    genHTMLul(outDir, share->camName + ": " + dayStr, share);
+    genHTMLul(share->outDir, share->camName, share);
 }
 
 bool moDetect(const string &buffFile, Mat &vidThumb, shared_t *share)
@@ -79,6 +85,9 @@ bool moDetect(const string &buffFile, Mat &vidThumb, shared_t *share)
     {
         Mat prev;
         Mat next;
+        int diff      = 0;
+        int maxDiff   = 0;
+        int frameGaps = 0;
 
         do
         {
@@ -87,19 +96,29 @@ bool moDetect(const string &buffFile, Mat &vidThumb, shared_t *share)
 
             next = frameFF(&capture, share->frameGap);
 
-            if (imgDiff(prev, next, share))
+            if (imgDiff(prev, next, diff, share))
             {
-                resize(next, vidThumb, Size(360, 202), INTER_LINEAR);
+                resize(next, vidThumb, Size(1280, 720), INTER_LINEAR);
+
+                if (diff > maxDiff)
+                {
+                    maxDiff = diff;
+                }
 
                 mod = true; break;
             }
+
+            frameGaps++;
         }
         while (!prev.empty() && !next.empty());
+
+        detLog("scanned_buff_file = " + buffFile + " max_score = " + to_string(maxDiff) + " frame_gaps = " + to_string(frameGaps), share);
     }
     else
     {
-        cerr << "err: Could not open buff file: " << buffFile << " for reading. check formatting/permissions." << endl;
-        cerr << "     Also check if opencv was compiled with FFMPEG encoding enabled." << endl;
+        detLog("failed to open buff file: " + buffFile + " for reading.", share);
+        detLog("check formatting/permissions.", share);
+        detLog("also check if opencv was compiled with FFMPEG encoding enabled.", share);
     }
 
     return mod;
diff --git a/src/mo_detect.h b/src/mo_detect.h
index 8799101..459f26c 100644
--- a/src/mo_detect.h
+++ b/src/mo_detect.h
@@ -15,8 +15,9 @@
 
 #include "common.h"
 #include "web.h"
+#include "logger.h"
 
-bool imgDiff(const Mat &prev, const Mat &next, shared_t *share);
+bool imgDiff(const Mat &prev, const Mat &next, int &diffScore, shared_t *share);
 bool moDetect(const string &buffFile, Mat &vidThumb, shared_t *share);
 void wrOut(const string &buffFile, const Mat &vidThumb, shared_t *share);
 Mat  frameFF(VideoCapture *cap, int gap);
diff --git a/src/web.cpp b/src/web.cpp
index 7208781..f6c165e 100644
--- a/src/web.cpp
+++ b/src/web.cpp
@@ -12,54 +12,64 @@
 
 #include "web.h"
 
-void genHTMLul(const string &outputDir, const string &title)
+void genHTMLul(const string &outputDir, const string &title, shared_t *share)
 {
     DIR           *dir;
     struct dirent *ent;
-    vector<string> regNames;
-    vector<string> dirNames;
+    vector<string> logNames;
+    vector<string> regNames = lsFilesInDir(outputDir);
+    vector<string> dirNames = lsDirsInDir(outputDir);
 
     string htmlText = "<!DOCTYPE html>\n";
 
     htmlText += "<html>\n";
+    htmlText += "<head>\n";
+    htmlText += "<link rel='stylesheet' href='/theme.css'>\n";
+    htmlText += "</head>\n";
     htmlText += "<body>\n";
-    htmlText += "<h2>" + title + "</h2>\n";
-    htmlText += "<ul>\n";
+    htmlText += "<h3>" + title + "</h3>\n";
 
-    if ((dir = opendir(outputDir.c_str())) != NULL)
+    if (!dirNames.empty())
     {
-        while ((ent = readdir(dir)) != NULL)
+        htmlText += "<ul>\n";
+
+        for (auto &&dirName : dirNames)
         {
-            if (ent->d_type & DT_REG)
-            {
-                regNames.push_back(string(ent->d_name));
-            }
-            else if (ent->d_type & DT_DIR)
-            {
-                dirNames.push_back(string(ent->d_name));
-            }
+            htmlText += "  <li><a href='" + dirName + "'>" + dirName + "</a></li>\n";
         }
 
-        closedir(dir);
+        htmlText += "</ul>\n";
     }
 
-    sort(regNames.begin(), regNames.end());
-    sort(dirNames.begin(), dirNames.end());
-
-    for (auto dirName : dirNames)
+    for (auto &&regName : regNames)
     {
-        htmlText += "  <li><a href='" + dirName + "'>" + dirName + "</a></li>\n";
-    }
-
-    for (auto regName : regNames)
-    {
-        if (regName.ends_with(".html") && !regName.ends_with("index.html"))
+        if (regName.ends_with("_log.html"))
         {
-            htmlText += "  <li><a href='" + regName + "'> <img src='" + replaceAll(regName, ".html", ".jpg") + "' </a></li>\n";
+            logNames.push_back(regName);
+        }
+        else if (regName.ends_with(".html") && !regName.ends_with("index.html"))
+        {
+            // regName.substr(0, regName.size() - 5) removes .html
+            auto name = regName.substr(0, regName.size() - 5);
+
+            htmlText += "<a href='" + regName + "'><img src='" + name + ".jpg" + "' style='width:25%;height:25%;'</a>\n";
         }
     }
 
-    htmlText += "</ul>\n";
+    if (!logNames.empty())
+    {
+        htmlText += "<h4>Logs</h4>\n";
+        htmlText += "<ul>\n";
+
+        for (auto &&name : logNames)
+        {
+            // name.substr(0, name.size() - 9) removes _log.html
+            htmlText += "  <li><a href='" + name + "'>" + name.substr(0, name.size() - 9) + "</a></li>\n";
+        }
+
+        htmlText += "</ul>\n";
+    }
+
     htmlText += "</body>\n";
     htmlText += "</html>";
 
@@ -79,8 +89,11 @@ void genHTMLvid(const string &outputVid, shared_t *share)
     filename = replaceAll(filename, share->vidExt, "html");
 
     htmlText += "<html>\n";
+    htmlText += "<head>\n";
+    htmlText += "<link rel='stylesheet' href='/theme.css'>\n";
+    htmlText += "</head>\n";
     htmlText += "<body>\n";
-    htmlText += "<video width='420' height='320' controls autoplay>\n";
+    htmlText += "<video width=100% height=100% controls autoplay>\n";
     htmlText += "  <source src='" + filename + "' type='video/" + share->vidExt + "'>\n";
     htmlText += "</video>\n";
     htmlText += "</body>\n";
@@ -92,3 +105,19 @@ void genHTMLvid(const string &outputVid, shared_t *share)
 
     file.close();
 }
+
+void genCSS(shared_t *share)
+{
+    string cssText = "body {\n";
+
+    cssText += "  background-color: " + share->webBg   + ";\n";
+    cssText += "  color: "            + share->webTxt  + ";\n";
+    cssText += "  font-family: "      + share->webFont + ";\n";
+    cssText += "}";
+
+    ofstream file(string(cleanDir(share->webRoot) + "/theme.css").c_str());
+
+    file << cssText << endl;
+
+    file.close();
+}
diff --git a/src/web.h b/src/web.h
index e36b27a..7e9575b 100644
--- a/src/web.h
+++ b/src/web.h
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@
 
 #include "common.h"
 
-void genHTMLul(const string &outputDir, const string &title);
+void genHTMLul(const string &outputDir, const string &title, shared_t *share);
 void genHTMLvid(const string &outputVid, shared_t *share);
+void genCSS(shared_t *share);
 
 #endif // WEB_H