I like what I see of the new layout. Nice work guys.
Richard Waghorne | Homepage | 07.20.05 - 8:25 pm | #

It looks really nice. I'm looking forward to things acting a little weird.
Kevin | Homepage | 07.20.05 - 10:33 pm | #

Thanks guys.
Dick OBrien | Homepage | 07.21.05 - 9:45 am | #

Looking slick.
Colm | Homepage | 07.21.05 - 9:51 am | #

Sorry folks, I hate to say this, but the banner still looks very 1994. I reckon the site could use a web designer to give the site a total overhaul, perhaps a new CMS etc - BlogSpot's really not the best sort of site for a multiple author blog, imho - Movable Type would suit far better.

That said, the content is excellent!
tom cosgrave | Homepage | 07.21.05 - 10:21 am | #

Good job on the update guys, it is a definite improvement.

Moving to another blog platform would be another improvement, as Tom pointed out.

You would gain a lot from an SEO point of view - I would differ from Tom's recommendation of Movable Type - I would recommend WordPress because it is Open Source and fully web standards compliant 'out of the box'
Tom Raftery | Homepage | 07.21.05 - 10:28 am | #

Thanks for doing this, Dick. It's definitely a huge improvement. Posts in the new typeface will automatically have at least 20% more authority.
Ben Good | Homepage | 07.21.05 - 10:43 am | #

I had thought about asking a designer to do a bit of work on it, but then plumped for having a shot at it myself.

Moving to another platform and/or getting a domain is another question entirely. As Tom R points out there are definite benefits in terms of increased visibility. I also like a lot of the features packages like WordPress offer, such as categories automatically working as Technorati tags, comment notification etc.

Having said that though, I'm not sure if we'll be doing this any time soon. I reckon it would take a fair bit of time to set it up and complete a transition and that's something we don't have a lot of at the moment. Maybe next year.
Dick OBrien | Homepage | 07.21.05 - 10:58 am | #

Looks good, the banner is a definite improvement, although I would probably have put the "Back Seat Drivers" bit in bold. All in all, I'd say it's at least 2003!
Frank McGahon | Homepage | 07.21.05 - 11:18 am | #

Thanks Frank. Tried bold, but it didn't look as well.
Dick OBrien | Homepage | 07.21.05 - 11:22 am | #

Excellent. TCAL creating real change. ;) It is a vast improvement. If you would like a proper logo done up at some stage, I'll help you out for free. But you'd have to have specific ideas.
dave | Homepage | 07.21.05 - 11:23 am | #

Cheers Dave. May take you up on that some day.
Dick OBrien | Homepage | 07.21.05 - 11:28 am | #

Paying web designers is cheating.
Setsunai | Homepage | 07.21.05 - 1:27 pm | #

Dick, any chance you could have the banner at the top link back to the main page? I'm used to banging at it - but without a response at the moment.
Richard Waghorne | Homepage | 07.22.05 - 2:43 pm | #

Shouldn't be a problem. I'll do it when I have a few minutes.
Dick OBrien | Homepage | 07.22.05 - 2:51 pm | #

Nice one.
Richard Waghorne | Homepage | 07.22.05 - 5:49 pm | #

looking at your headline graphic, Dick - are you actively trying to be typecast as cappuccino-sipping, Guardian-reading, PowerBook-blogging pinko lefties? ;-)
EWI | Homepage | 07.25.05 - 8:06 pm | #

I think we got shoved in that pigeon hole a long time ago.
Dick OBrien | Homepage | 07.26.05 - 12:42 pm | #