Comments on: Do not attempt to adjust your screens

By: Robert Koehler

Robert Koehler — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 02:42:44 +0000

a-letheia: Thanks for the comments. I know the new asides system may take some time to get used to, but I like them as it gives me the option of linking copious amounts of bullshit without taking up too much space. And unlike the news roundups, they allow people to comment on particular stories rather than trying to hold several conversations about several topics at once. I expect much of the bitching and strife to pick up on the asides once readers make the adjustment.

As for the template being confusing, uninviting and wordy, I will try to work on the styling to make it more user-friendly, although on my screen, it looks pretty decent. Any kind of styling suggestions you may have would be most welcome. The three-column setup has been controversial, to say the least—I’ve gotten a lot of negative feedback about it, but I like it as it keep the sidebar relatively short. It would be easy enough, however, to switch this template to a 2-column one, and I may be able to have it so that readers could switch between 1,2 and 3-column formats.

By: a-letheia

a-letheia — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 19:00:59 +0000

The ‘Asides’ lack the bloggers’ point of view, and thereby lack a point of departure for the bitching and strife that normally ensues. They remind me of those “news round-ups” (er, whatever) a few months back.

Polonius: “What do you read, my dear lord?”
Hamlet: “Words, words, words…”

The new template is confusing, uninviting and wordy. Seems unnatural for the screen to be split almost down the middle… Sorry for the negativity…

By: Robert Koehler

Robert Koehler — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 08:11:12 +0000

Thank you for the work you and Scott have done on Sandbox… it really is a joy to play with.

By: Andy Skelton

Andy Skelton — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 07:54:52 +0000

Bill’s asides are wonderful! Thanks for the hat-tip on Sandbox and congrats on a great implementation.

By: Hyalucent

Hyalucent — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 21:34:44 +0000

I’m liking it so far. I just hope my old computersaurus at work can read it. It has trouble with sidebars.

By: captbbq

captbbq — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 10:34:45 +0000

I liked it best when your masthead was the picture of the police line with fire in the background, gave a nice anarchical feel to things.

By: Robert Koehler

Robert Koehler — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 07:47:19 +0000

Thanks for the line-height suggestion. Seems a bit more readable now.

Defined the background color, too. Should be good to go now.

By: Angrycareb

Angrycareb — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 05:00:28 +0000

i would suggest dash of line-height adjustment and a pinch of letter-spacing (something like em: 0.12;) to improve readability. setting a background color for the body because if you don’t, the browser serves up whatever default color is set (here it’s #ccc) in its preferences.

a complete hack would build their own CSS from scratch. Sandbox is beautiful from a markup stand-point, but overly simple too. i have yet to see it used in a way in which i find appealing (but opinions …). this all said, a theme is a theme is a theme, to each his own.

By: dudeinwales

dudeinwales — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 04:59:15 +0000

Looks pretty good, I think.

By: Robert Koehler

Robert Koehler — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 04:07:55 +0000

I’m a bit iffy on the font—I like the Georgia, but I might switch it back to Net-friendly arial.

As for adding space between the columns and the masthead, that seems like a good idea.