You may have noticed that things have changed. The blog has had its design revamped, and there’s even a new color scheme! Likewise, the “subtitle” of the blog has changed because the old one was too long for this design. I’m open to other subtitles if you have a brilliant suggestion!
Now I have most of a weekend to play with the new format before we have to get into the nitty-gritty of normal posts!
What do you think? Suggestions, constructive criticism, rotten fruits thrown at my face?
On the personal side, today is also a day of change because I’m going to become a licensed New Jersey attorney! New York’s paperwork maze of death continues…
UPDATE: This new dynamic view isn’t working out. I’m going to go back to a traditional template, and I’ll work on it over the weekend. We’ll go for the blog’s Makeover #4 on Monday!
Mazal tov on your licensing! I love the redesign, it looks really clean and professional.
The new design is very nice! I like the clean look a lot. The only issue is that it's more a news theme–like for places where order of posts isn't essential. It is very hard to tell now which post comes first, and since you often blog in sequence it could end up being very confusing for your readers.
Also… you need a banner! 🙂
wait… it lets you view your site in all sorts of formats like "snapshot" and "flipcard" and "magazine"??? I have never seen such a thing! It seems like that part would only be on your side of the blog, not the readers.
*scowl*
Now that you've gone back to a normal design, what am I going to do with all these old tomatoes I saved?
Hmmm, I'm not sure I agree with the subtitle, "Becoming Orthodox Without Questioning Your Sanity."
1) many of us would define it as becoming Jewish, with Orthodox being the mode or sub-type.
2) is it more non-sane to become Jewish in a Christian society or to become Orthodox in the Jewish community? (Hmm, maybe it's easier to be Orthodox in a Christian society? Needs some thought)
3) Shouldn't one question the "sanity" (a word that needs its own contextual defintion) of any major change? Career, marriage, home, etc. How about questioning one's lack of change? I would argue that more people are non-sane for staying in a situation that they don't like because of intertia or ease.
And on this note, Good Shabbos to all!
Well, Sam, I'd agree with you, but it isn't exactly a common or easy choice.
–the Curmudgeonly Israeli Giyoret
This is much better for your blog (IMO). You still need a banner. If I had time I'd try to make you one myself…
Originally posted: December 2, 2011 at 1:36 PM
Elle, great point! I think the issue is that now that it's in the "dynamic views," I think everyone can change how they view it! There should be a little click drop-down menu on the top left corner. I was able to flip through all the dynamic views, and I don't think that would change it for anyone else. I also couldn't get it to go into the view I chose for it, grrr! I think I'll be going back to something more traditional over the weekend. Apparently the dynamic views don't show on most cellphones, which is also a serious problem for me.
Originally posted: December 4, 2011 at 5:14 AM
Sam, I think you're overthinking things. I certainly disagree with your first point. Many of the people here have considered themselves "Jewish" or "Jewishly affiliated" for years, either as a liberal convert or BT. I also think it's better, given my intended audience, to be as up-front as possible about my orthodox stance from the beginning. There is a significant contingent of liberal conversion candidates who read regularly. Many of those were actually sent here by their converting rabbis!
But in general, it's just a subtitle. It's meant to be catchy, pique the interest, draw the potential reader in for a few minutes. Not reveal deep philosophical underpinnings or set the agenda.
(And the idea of "not losing your sanity" is that the process doesn't have to be so hard when you're not alone. It's about learning from each other's mistakes and observations. Not a psychiatric diagnosis. Funny story, remind me to tell you sometime, Sam.)