Merry Christmas Gary.

Hi Simon,
same to you.Have a nice holiday

While 4 sites all similar looking is very nice I think I am going to have to poo poo the whole thing. Its not that there all the same it just seems over done or something. Remeber its the Crusty part of the pie that we bite first.

Shaymus,
sorry to hear that. I have to admit that was my initial reaction when I first saw the design a year ago.

Still, it is one person doing the four weblogs since my attempts to bring in other people as contributors have not been successful.

So the unity needs to become before the diversity. The older versions were too diverse and disconnected. The colours give the diversity and each weblog has a different readership.

Isn't it the content of the pie that matters after the crust?

Yes you are right about the pie....Blog on and dont think about it is the best idea.

Shaymus,
design is important--in both an aesthetic sense re a digital world--- and in terms of the professionalization of the blogosphere. Thoughtfactory has a corporate look, even though it does not make any money. It costs money to do this--more than I'd expected.

I'm not sure where it leads. I just knew that the next step was to make the shift with different weblogs with a default design into a group entity--the thoughtfactory. it's an expensive step.

Yes people do have trouble getting valid contributers to blogs I have noticed...That was my original reasoning to become 4 identities...
I suppose I am getting used to your blog now and it is starting be less painful to look at...Well the cricket will be on soon anyway.
"professionalization of the blogosphere" Now theres something to write on a sign and stand at the traffic lights....Good Luck with it.

Shaymus,
the blogs are starting to fill the space occupied by the little print magazines of yesteryear. Many of the latter have not made the shift to a digital world----too busy trying to protect their subscription base---so the vacuum in a digital world is filled by people creating themselves.

The blogs are a very good vehicle for people to publish and share their creative work, and to talk about culture that they are a part of. They are akin to the small print magazines because in pop culture terms YouTube, is dominant and the paradigm shift.

I have notice that in aerial pics looking down on Nuclear Power Plants they seem to resemble Boobs.....I think there is something very symbolic in this. Symbolic of what?...Of mankinds suckling of the earth perhaps.

Shaymus,
the economy feeds off the tit of nuclear power to keep it ticking over.They represent the future --or so we are being told by our leaders and advisors Since making business pay for its pollution is a necessary first step in nuclear energy becoming economically viable in Australia, then business is going to feed off the tit of government subsidies.