Fly Fishing,    Blogging,    trout underground,    Underground Entertainment

The Bling Underground: New Look, Same Attitude

By Tom Chandler 9/27/2008

Even though congress can't agree on a $700 billion Underground jackpot bailout bill, it's nice to know the rest of the world isn't standing still.

In fact, while congress wrangles, I was working my nimble writer fingers to the bone building a new visual theme for the Trout Underground.

Why abandon the look that's taken me from humble fly fishing writer to groupie-mobbed online superstar?

Simple.

Space (it's not just the final frontier for geeks).

Bigger. Better. Wider. (It's almost as if we're selling you a new car.)

The old theme was a little crowded, and the pictures I posted were limited in size (that's bad). The new theme gives me an extra 120 pixels in width. So yes, you'll see bigger pictures, and perhaps longer stories. (And yes, a few more advertising opportunities too.)

Yet despite the width, I wanted something that still loaded relatively quickly. And yes, I wanted something with a little white space - something that had a little room to breathe.

Expect plenty more changes over the next month.

In the meantime, sit back. Relax. Send us $10s and $20s. And enjoy the view.
AuthorPicture

Tom Chandler

As the author of the decade leading fly fishing blog Trout Underground, Tom believes that fishing is not about measuring the experience but instead of about having fun. As a staunch environmentalist, he brings to the Yobi Community thought leadership on environmental and access issues facing us today.

18 comments
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Thanks everyone. Too much to respond to individually, but yeah, I left out the Weirdness, and that'll be added back in. There are still a few changes coming, but for now, I've got to pay some bills, write the FFR post, write up the (sadly fishless) weekend hike into the mountains, and a few other goodies.
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New look works for me! Cleaner and much less crowded.
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I like it. Bigger pictures - 'nuff said.
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"satria 09.28.08 at 12:44 pm hei… I read your information from begining to the end and I think that is interesting information.. I think i will tell this information again to my friend and I hope this information will be usefull for them… oh yes I suggest you to check my blog on [address redacted due to spam], I hope the article on my blog will be usefull for you… and we can share each other. ... more thank you… ;-)" I'm impressed that Satria seems to hardly know you, but is already hoping to "share each other." It's a bold request and I'm hoping it works out for everone. After all, it seems really genuine... I for one, will contribute to his blog, appropriately.
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Looks good...and it'll only take about three weeks for those bony fingers.
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Very very nice. But you know I like whitespace. But, I have a problem with the header: Words, check. Images, check. Opinion, check. Weirdness...uh...weirdness? What...no more weirdness?
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Sweet new look Tom!
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Very nice. Will you consider mentoring wannabe bloggers in return for free farm fresh produce? (and an occasional lunch at the Billy Goats Tavern)
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Hi Tom, I really like the new look - more space to enjoy your creativity. And thanks again for writing about my blog on Wednesday; I really appreciate it. I definitely got some good ideas about how to do it from you.
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Lived by the motto ..."if it ain't broke don't fix it"...for years. I stand corrected, very nice and as stated by a couple of others,"light and air" are good for one's soul and my hangover. Now just get the FFC back to work and all will be right in the fly fishing world...well close anyway.
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change, change, change... not just political rhetoric here, thanks for giving us back the word!
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Saw the Lamp;TN at the grocery today. Looked as if she were shopping, but my guess is she was trying to avoid the cursing and gnashing of teeth which probably goes with the format change. I'm happy for you both that it worked. It looks good, and I'm not just saying that 'cause she paid for my beer. Thanks Nancy.
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Oh, and at the risk of making this thing political, who says you can't put lipstick on a Trout (Underground) ?? [ducking and running]
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TC, Nicely done! I knew you were working on this; didn't realize how clean and fresh the whole site looks. I assume you had Nancy do the creative work? I know Wally couldn't get this done right. (And I know, having traveled with you, that you're way too cheap to hire it out.) I have 500 px width in the Chile Underground, and it's served me well; although I'm considering expanding the width by 50 or ... more so px and leaving the rest alone. Slick 'n' Slack (www.slicknslack.com) has 550 px like yours, and I really enjoy the wide open spaces it gives. We geeks have always valued space as a frontier; even on the Web... Congrats!
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Tom, the site is as sick as ever. Thanks
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looking good there TC - thomas magnum, P.I.
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Whoa, that's an eye opening layout, I second kbarton10, the light and air look good. Now I'll have to cruise through the rest of the layout. Looking good TU!
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Some one let in a little light and air, looks good.
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