I have tweaked and twiddled with the prototype pages I previously showed and have found more things that I would like to be able to do with it.
Though something of a programmer in my previous life, I am no HTML whiz so I look for higher technologies than the original hammer and chisels to create web pages. I still like Windows Live Writer and still want to use it to maintain most of this new format. So far, I have been unable to find a way to use it on the Google Sites platform that the previous prototype is built on.
I feel it is vital that readers can leave anonymous comments if they want. I will deal with the spam that comes through that window just so it is easier to use for most of you. Google Sites still does not have a reasonable way to let readers post anonymous comments so that is strike two for Google Sites… for now.
So, back to Blogger.com to see what I can weld together to get something close to what I am aiming for. Some of the private comments I got about my original Hub page were about how uncomfortable it was to look over the main page and I agree. Even after a lot of tweaking, it is still not as easy on the eyes as I would like so I have worked up another version of a hub page where all of my blogs are anchored.
It is less complex to the eye and flows better. It lacks a lot of the borders, framing and fine tuning flexibility of the previous design, however, it does support commenting and I can use Live Writer to maintain it. That will save me a whole lot of time.
It also allows me to continue to use this blog as my DAILY blog so I don’t lose the continuity and my archives of posts and comments will continue to be available and grow with the site.
As before, one can get to any of my other blog sites from this one page but each of the other blogs it references can be individually “followed” if desired.
I will be adding a few features, like a SEARCH box for all my blogs, An archive list, Followers and much more but I really don’t want this hub page to get out of control with bells and whistles. I tend to over build when I get enthusiastic about a project and some of my wonderful wants turn into “why-in-the-worlds?” really quickly.
Please check it out and please leave comments (now that you can).