Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Welcome To The New Look Of Legal Schnauzer

This is a time of transition for our little blogging venture. Just last week, we added a donate button at the top of the blog, where readers can provide financial support for our reporting efforts. We recently received an invitation to join an ad network for progressive blogs, and we plan to dive in headfirst. This all comes on the heels of our inclusion in Cisions's 2012 ranking of the "Top 50 Independent Law Blogs in North America."

A major part of our renovation is the adoption of an updated look for Legal Schnauzer. This is our first day to try it out, and we hope you like it. We've used the same blogging template from day one, so we were overdue for an upgrade.

I picked the original template, in part, because . . . well, this might sound stupid, but because it was not terribly attractive. The goal was to have the focus on reporting about serious matters of legal corruption, so I didn't really want a slick design. I wanted to be rather stark and plain.

The old template certainly fit that bill, but it long has outlived its usefulness. Aside from being drab, the old format was inflexible, making poor use of space and not allowing for important elements like advertising.

Our new format is cleaner and more inviting, without being showy. I'm still learning how to tool around in the new template, so I've been a bit slow today on tasks like moderation of comments. In fact, it's possible that I might need to disable comments temporarily while I get used to driving my sporty new template. (By the way, that would be a cool name for a sports car, "The Template.")

We ask for your patience in the next few days if comment moderation seems unusually slow--or if the comments go away altogether for a while. We don't plan for any interruption to last long.

It's heartening to know that we have a devoted group of readers who value aggressive reporting on the corruption that ails our democracy--in Alabama and many other states. Our goal is to make Legal Schnauzer an even more valuable part of your reading endeavors. 

As always, thanks for your support and for welcoming LS into your lives. We welcome your comments about the new look and other renovations at the blog.
  

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

love your new do murph, spirit look and all that change how we image our stuff, good idea to be ever in the miracle of creation

http://becomingabitchboy.tumblr.com/page/78

your work has got me digging too, found that link and boy are we in trouble with the Venus of Willendorf worshiping to the Phallic running the shadow gov

your work is extraordinary and so necessary to see the new mirror reflection of we can and do, do much better with the transparency of how sick the so called 'government usa' has been

thanks and for the button too

Anonymous said...

I like the clean new look!

Anonymous said...

New look is awesome. Love it!

Anonymous said...

Thumbs up on the new look. Big improvement!

Anonymous said...

I did an LOL about the statement that you intentionally picked a drab format the first time around. You sure succeeded at that, brother!

Love the blog, but it's always been ugly as hell. This is a big improvement.

Anonymous said...

I dont really care what it looks like because I'll read it anyway! But red? Red is hard to read and has some scary symbolism. When you see red writing the is usually trouble involved.

legalschnauzer said...

You must not be a Crimson Tide fan, @2:49.

Anonymous said...

Not really and that symbolism didnt cross my mind. Was thinking more so in terms drawing red lines through things such as important docs etc.

Anonymous said...

black and white and red all over is a very old saying

the new blog look is not the pick a blog image and don't be too risky

moderation is always the better choice when appealing to the reader who has an imagination that isn't necessarily co-creating the same idea to be shared etc

reckless abandon is scary

nothing ventured nothing gained is a bold decision and scary too

good work on being the artist unafraid to be avant garde in the southern hemisphere a perfect temperature for your genius the evidence are facts indisputable your blogging is life blood and that is red alright

Molli said...

Looking fabulous but as you know Legal Schnauzer got me as a loyal viewer with the content! Keeping it real. Hope that new button is getting a workout!

e.a.f. said...

I liked the old look, but as you say, it was time for a new look! You have it. New look, same good content. Great work. Thank you,

Wayne said...

I, too, like the new format. Give it a workout too LS.

Anonymous said...

Old look, new look; doesn't really matter now, does it? Because Murph, MURPH's name, has become synonymous with LEGAL SCHNAUZER.
Shu you could just have a blank page with only MURPH, and a picture speaks a thousand words.....

Anonymous said...

http://www.bitcandy.com/plogs/plogDedicated/music/todays-candy-talking-heads-life-during-wartime

to your new look and the future

the red line was drawn for Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, Syria, Iran and and and so let us dance with the talking heads cause the same heads talk about war non-stop and that is a red line for certain in this day and age of bloggin our noggins in heads talking about the corruption fully exposed

talking heads to you LS

Anonymous said...

Heard of a van that is loaded with weapons,
packed up and ready to go
Heard of some gravesites, out by the highway,
a place where nobody knows
The sound of gunfire, off in the distance,
I'm getting used to it now
Lived in a brownstone, lived in the ghetto,
I've lived all over this town

This ain't no party, this ain't no disco,
this ain't no fooling around
No time for dancing, or lovey dovey,
I ain't got time for that now

Transmit the message, to the receiver,
hope for an answer some day
I got three passports, a couple of visas,
don't even know my real name
High on a hillside, the trucks are loading,
everything's ready to roll
I sleep in the daytime, I work in the nightime,
I might not ever get home

This ain't no party, this ain't no disco,
this ain't no fooling around
This ain't no Mudd Club, or C. B. G. B.'s,
I ain't got time for that now
Heard about Houston? Heard about Detroit?
Heard about Pittsburgh, P. A.?
You oughta know not to stand by the window
somebody might see you up there
I got some groceries, some peanut butter,
to last a couple of days
But I ain't got no speakers, ain't got no
headphones, ain't got no records to play

Why stay in college? Why go to night school?
Gonna be different this time
Can't write a letter, can't send a postcard,
I can't write nothing at all
This ain't no party, this ain't no disco,
this ain't no fooling around
I'd like to kiss you, I'd love you hold you
I ain't got no time for that now

Trouble in transit, got through the roadblock,
we blended with the crowd
We got computer, we're tapping phone lines,
I know that ain't allowed
We dress like students, we dress like housewives,
or in a suit and a tie
I've changed my hairstyle so many times now,
I don't know what I look like!
You make me shiver, I feel so tender,
we make a pretty good team
Don't get exhausted, I'll do some driving,
you ought to get you some sleep
Get you instructions, follow directions,
then you should change your address
Maybe tomorrow, maybe the next day,
whatever you think is best
Burned all my notebooks, what good are
notebooks? They won't help me survive.
My chest is aching, burns like a furnace,
the burning keeps me alive
Try to stay healthy, physical fitness,
don't want to catch no disease
Try to be careful, don't take no chances,
you better watch what you say.

Anonymous said...

LS you mighty resemble Talking Head and the MURPH is there on stage with you, too

running around bad ALA asses up elbows down

creepers sleepers peepers watching all us all the time

careful in the fast lane

xo/PP

Anonymous said...

VERY NICE VERY PROFESSIONAL.. Looks serious..Loving it.

Anonymous said...

The red hurts my eyes. That is the only thing so far that would turn me away reading.

Anonymous said...

I like the new look. You are right it is "cleaner" and easier to read. Good job. Course, I'd read it if it were on a plain white background. Keep up the good and important work.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on everything of late. I've always enjoyed reading your blog even though I live in NC. I've always appreciated that there is still a journalist who unflinchingly tells-it-like-it-is. I wish this country could clone one of you in every county from coast to coast. Carry on my good man!!

Scarette said...

I like this new look very much. Keep up your excellent work. I've been reading your blog for a long time.