EVS-Islands: Thoughts - Two Steps Forward, One Step Sideways and One Step Back.

My regular viewers have noticed some changes to EVS-Islands over the last few weeks:

1) I now embed Flash slideshows into my posts to display my images. The simple reason is that it is much easier to create a post. In addition, I can include unlimited images to give more complete coverage of a topic. The HTML code required to embed a Flash slideshow is 2-lines compared to 5-lines to place a single image. Nikumaroro Atoll KR, for example has 14-images. If I used my old method, the post would be too lengthy. I would never read it and I am certain my viewers wouldn't either. If I want to add additional images, no problem. I merely upload them into my Flickr account, EVS-Islands' photos, and arrange them within their appropriate set. For the viewers that can't view the slideshows, I will include a link to my Flickr account at the specific set of images. By the way, I do include comments with the images and those can be read by left-clicking the image. You can also view the image at full sixe (1024 X 1024) by following directions as you pause an image. That is one step forward.
2) The look of my blog has changed. I continually look for the ultimate template. One that presents my data as pleasantly as possible. I like this style. It was designed by a hard-working person that informed me that it had been "ripped off". She gave me permission to use the template. Since I have been using it, I have tested it against a number of browsers. It works with Firefox, Opera and IE-7 Beta. Unfortunately, in IE-6, the sidebar information is strung along following the final post. I don't know how to fix it. Since I used IE-6 on occassions, I decided to see if MS had a newer IE version. They do. It is IE-7 Beta. It is a Firefox look alike, lean and mean. When you view my blog in IE-7 Beta, it looks fine. So all of you still using IE-6, it is time to upgrade to IE-7 Beta. Plus, it's free and I know you love those free things. This is one step forward and one step back (for the IE-6 folks).
3) I resist MS software because I always pull for the little guy. But I will give credit where credit is due. They did a good thing with their Windows Live Writer Beta. It allows you to post from your desktop without signing into your blog. When you are satisfied with what you have composed, you can publish from your desktop. It works for me. I will use it for all of my posts from here on out. There are some additions I would like to see, but they are covered within Blogger and Firefox Greasemonkey Scripts. One step sideways for a neutral move.

If any of you wish to respond to my changes, both favorably or not, I welcome constructive suggestions. I should say, I will entertain constructive suggestions. I might not adopt them, but they will have been entertained.