It’s not perfect… but the options are interesting. The major problem I am finding (and if you are using IE as a browser, you are noticing it as well) is that the sidebar gets bumped down on the page. If you use Firefox, it’s no big deal and looks fine. What do you think? Do you like this theme or not? I’m not sure if I’m sticking with it, just tinkering for now.
*Update – Things should work fine now in an IE browser. My categories were too long and I needed to tweak them a bit.
Posted in: blogging
Harry Smeltzer
March 19, 2009
I use IE, and your sidebar appears to be where it belongs. One thing I did recently was to put my blogroll on a separate page. That really cleaned up my sidebar. Whenever I add a link, I reactivate the widget, copy everything and repaste to my links page, then deactivate the widget again.
cenantua
March 19, 2009
Hey Harry, Yes, it should be fine now in IE.
More or less, what I am doing here is a band-aide until I make the transition to WordPress.org. The transition that I had hoped to make by this time is going to have to wait a little longer (considering all of the stuff left before graduation), but this new theme may be the best way to go for now. I am thinking about transitioning most of my sidebar stuff to other pages since the header in this theme allows considerable room to play with in that respect. I’m also tweaking background and outline colors to see what seems to work and not be distracting. I’m not sold on the header I selected.
lornakismet
January 22, 2010
Harry, could you please explain how you do that? I would appreciate it a lot.
Lorna
http://lornakismet.wordpress.com
caswain01
March 22, 2009
Sidebars are always a tricky thing to settle on. If you have too much “sidebar” the site looks busy. If you don’t have much, the site looks like a lame web page.
The other issue is how much scrolling do you wish to inflict on your readers. I’m a firm believer in the idea of limiting the scrolling for navigation (content is another issue, scroll away for that!). That’s one of the reasons I prefer the three column blog template. With a little judicious placement, the important stuff at the top, one can reduce the scrolls to a minimum.
Now I know some like to bump the blog roll off to a separate page. I guess that’s fine. The argument I’ve heard from the techie side where I work my other blog is “that makes users stay on my page to read my content.” Honestly, I see that like trapping users like some mouse in a maze looking for the cheese just to make them read your content.
The bottom line is it’s *your* blog. The best format is the format you are most happy with. If the navigation works for you, then the template and format works.
cenantua
March 22, 2009
I agree in regard to setting up the “mouse maze.” You want to optimize flexibility for the user, but at the same time make sure you don’t lose them from your content. That’s why I make all of my hyperlinks (except the RSS links that don’t allow it, darn it!) jump to a new page when clicked. Ultimately, I wish there could be a way to structure clicked pages, maintaining a hierarchy of clicks, from the original site of entry to subsequent tiers that clearly remain secondary on the web browser.
Otherwise, like the look of the new theme? The only thing I’m not liking is the header. The only reason I used it was because I don’t have an image of the Maryland Monument with leaves on the trees in the background. I got a little tired of the bare tree look. Maybe I was getting seasonal depression just because of the look of the header in the blog!
I just wanted to make a transition to green leaves with the coming of Spring. I hope to remedy that header photo problem sometime soon. Of course, then I’ll have to look for one with fall colors on the leaves after that…
James F. Epperson
March 23, 2009
This has nothing to do with this thread, I just wanted to thank you for telling me about the Wilson sermon, which is now part of my website:
http://www.civilwarcauses.org/revwilson.htm
Thanks much!
cenantua
March 23, 2009
James, Glad you found it useful. Also, I haven’t forgotten about looking for the source materials about the Letcher-Wise scenario, but will have to readdress that after I wrap-up my thesis.
James F. Epperson
March 23, 2009
For heaven’s sake, finish your thesis! That takes precedence. (Although, telling your readers what your thesis is about and where you are going t0 school might be nice!)
cenantua
March 23, 2009
James, Navigate on over to my CV for details about the school, program, and thesis topic.