Hi Rob!

Very cool redesign. Isn't it amazing how different your content can look after redesigning a template you've grown accustomed to?

I've always enjoyed comparing notes on blog templates, commenting mechanisms and such since we started our wine blogs around the same time. I'm still plugging along with Blogger too even though some people say WordPress is the way to go. They're probably right, but I haven't found a big limitation with Blogger.com yet that's forced me to take the time to make the transition.

You turned me on to IntenseDebate and that's been a great improvement over Blogger comments- thanks for that. I like their recent comments widget- you might want to check that out as a way of raising up awareness of posts that are getting a lot of attention that might not necessarily be the most recent post. http://intensedebate.com/extras

I agree with Ryan's point about a comment link after each post. Currently, when I come to your site the comment count for each post isn't appearing so in order to get to the comments I need to click on the hyperlink title of the blog post for the comments to appear. That might have something to do with the template interacting with IntenseDebate because I do see comments appearing in the demo version of the template you're using:

http://themorningafter-btb.blogspot.com/

Separately, I'd recommend purchasing your own domain and using Blogger's Custom Domain service. That way people could go to http://www.rbwinepost.com and you wouldn't lose people who were used to going to http://rbwinepost.blogspot.com. I've heard some people say that Google prefers content at www.<website>.com rather than <website>.blogspot.com.

And if you want to further cleanse the Blogger look, you could replace the orange Blogger "B" favicon with your own: http://www.bloggerbuster.com/2008/04/favicons-mad...

Overall, I really do like the clean layout of the WordPress-esque template you've chosen. I think it's a nice presentation of your great content.

Cheers!

Thanks for the tip! I called Shaws in Franklin and they confirmed they sell wine. I've edited the list to reflect this.

Thanks for the tip joshiemac!
We're seeing it for slightly less here in MA. That's *got* to be a first. :)

Crack that bottle open and let us know what you think! :)

That's good to know they carry the wine at Lower Falls. It'll be interesting to see if any of the '07 makes it to their shelves. I'll check next time I'm in. Thanks for the tip!

Hey Joe! Thanks for checking in.

Whenever I get too down in the dumps about wacky MA laws I need to think of my friends who live where the state runs the show themselves. That's crazy stuff- truly.

Thinking a little more about your comment, Richard, I have to say that I disagree that there's little real harm so long as the state's not enforcing them because they're *selectively* enforcing the law.

The import/export language in the law has caused real problems for MA wine retailers as they've been prohibited from shipping out of the state as we discussed earlier:

http://www.wellesleywinepress.com/2009/08/massach...

See also this story about a MA lawmaker getting spotting buying alcohol at a New Hampshire state store. Even in that story, he's concerned about minor tax evasion when according to the Globe article he broke the law by crossing state lines with alcohol without a permit:

http://newsblog.projo.com/2009/09/westport-lawmak...

I think these are examples of why the law really does need to be cleared up. If the law isn't clear, it permits the ABCC to interpret them as they see fit and we all waste our money (as taxpayers) while variations of these arguments take place in courts.

I don't know if I'd like to be the lucky guy who gets that "opportunity". :)

The funny thing is, when issues like this come up for consideration (another example wine in grocery stores) campaigns successfully convince sufficient voters that these laws are somehow necessary to keep the peace. Imagine if wine flowed as freely in MA as it does in CA: Gasp! We just can't have that now can we.

Thanks for checking in, joshiemac. Always appreciate your comments.

Thanks Andy!