using the integrated error handling

[eluser]vonshavingcream[/eluser]
I am working on a new application and wanted to utilize the embedded error handling in CI. I have always used my own method but wanted to give it a go.

I want to be able to display messages within my template. So far I have only been able to allow CI to display error message that replace my template.

Is there a way to designate where and how to display errors?
I'm not even sure how to explain what I was thinking of but maybe code would explain it quicker.

suppose in my view template i had something like this.

Code:

<div class="container">
     <div id="header">
       Blahh Blahh Blahh
     </div>
     <div id="content">
           <div id="error_display">
              &lt;?php some_ci_function('to show any errors'); ?&gt;
           </div>
     <h1>hey some content here<h1>
     </div>
</div>

I was thinking there would be a log_error() function or something in addition to the show_error() function. something that works similar to the form validation error generator.

Am I going about this wrong? If so, can someone point me the right direction?

Thanks for any help.

C