Ah HAH -- it all comes clear now! They are trying to deflect the random-thoughts and generic-philosophy posts away from the regional boards. Wonder if it'll work.

I'm sure you're right, Cassandra & from a practical point of view it's probably a sensible idea to try to limit the regional boards to good, solid information

I must admit, however, sometimes when it's a little quiet I do enjoy some of the more generic/philosophical posts
(sorry to to steal your phrase, but I couldn't think of a better one).

I already spend too much time here on the Europe board without now wondering about what I might be missing on the others!

What happened to the
Trivia link
and
Fodors Blog link?

both used to be on the L column...

The new color scheme was a big JOLT , I must say. <gagging emoticon>
I did give it a go for about 3 minutes...but then my eyes got the same feeling they get when a camera is flashed directly in them.
So I have resorted to making a tent from a letter size piece of cream colored paper and draping it over the top of my flat screen monitor.
The paper shields my eyes from Fodors header but still allows me to see the threads.

Is the "Travel Wire" on the top horizontal tool bar supposed to be the Blog?

Very confused with this new format.

When I click on "Travel Wire", it actually takes to a page which has links to travel sections of major newspapers and magazines. Nice touch!

One more thing, Fodor's, if you're still listening:

New posts come up as blue.

When you put your curser on them, they become orange.

When you click on them, they come up as light blue.

As you move off of them, they become light gray.

If you move your curser on them again, they then become orange.

I'm getting confused. It was nice seeing posts that I have already read in "red." So when I go back and refresh my screen, the top 50 posts that I have read are in "red."

The gray is not much of a contrast. Please fix this. Thanks. ((b))