Two WordPress themes are currently active on the Tux Reports Network. The first one, the dominant one, is on all but the main site. This is a child-theme modifying the free Catch Kathmandu parent theme. The second theme is now active on the main blog – as an attempt to bring all the blogs in the network together. This is the News theme by Gavick Pro.
The problem is that I love both themes. Each has an advantage over the other. Each has a challenge.
I love Catch Kathmandu because of the amount of white space, the simplicity of the layout, and how easily I can add widgets. Also, the tie into XenForo is fantastic. Sadly, getting the main blog to show all the posts from the rest of the network requires too many workarounds. For example, I’ve used the mu sitewide tags plugin to move posts. However, the idea of duplicate posts just doesn’t thrill me. I’ve also tried versions of the Gavick Pro widgets available for free on the github servers but they don’t seem to fit together well with the Catch Kathmandu theme. Oh, I’ve tried but it’s far easier to use a Gavick Pro theme.
The News theme by Gavick Pro is awesome because of the widgets provided with the theme. It’s easy to bring together all of the politics posts together, the education posts, the business posts, etc. It’s great for a newspaper look – but – the article view is too cluttered. I also can’t figure out how to get the penguin to the top – and more of the blue navigation bar look. If those two elements were fixed then the News theme would win.
Yes, deciding between these two themes is much like hiking into a new area and trying to figure out the best route. Chime in if you have a suggestion.