Yes, it can, but like any language, once you get past the slang and begin to use the language correctly the "headmaster" (in this case the search engine(s)) is so very, very pleased

Hi Zipper, nice site. The blue side bar isn't exactly garish but, IMHO it does soften the look a lot if the sidebar, and the thin line below the nav, were done in the same colour as the right nav block, as in the mockup below. As well, I think it makes the header stand out more and gives the page more balance.

Bear in mind, I've never been known for my colour sense...... or any sort of sense, come to think of it!

http://members.shaw.ca/orville/contrasts.jpg

Thanks Steven.

I did try a softer blue sidebar but wasn't sure about it, I thought it made the page look a bit top-heavy.

Now that I've read your comment about changing the thin line below the nav and seen your side-by-side comparison, I can see that your version is definitely more balanced.
I didn't think of adding the boundary line to the right side of the sidebar either.

I like to play around with a screenshot of my layouts in a graphics editor, using a quick flood fills to try various colour schemes. I think another advantage to having more of the lighter colour below, is that it brings out that same colour in the logo. Colour schemes are very subjective, though, so I'd be curious to hear other opinions.

As for the boundary line on the right of the sidebar, I didn't think of it either. It was a fluke, in that it was left behind when I did the flood fill on the sidebar. It looked right, so I left it alone, but I think the light colour wouldn't work as well without it.

Well, I've done the softer look and put a horizontal strip menu on every page (except the 2 with the instructor CV's, as they are closely linked with the instructors pages).

Re the thin line below the nav, I tried to merge the pure-blue of the header with the pale-blue strip below it using a background image, but I couldn't get my graphics program (an early version of CorelDRAW) to eliminate the dark band between the colours - but it'll have to do.

I also tried using a "middle-dot" as a separator between the menu items instead of the usual vertical bar, I think it makes the menu items more legible but that might just be me.

Looks great Zipper! And so much easier to navigate now!

Is there meant to be a form on the Contact page?

There actually is a form, - and a pretty nice one at that...

Maybe it just loaded a bit slowly...

I noticed the form loaded slowly at times too, I don't know why.

I can see it now and the code was there, so I'm thinking that as I was in the middle of a reformat and re-installing programs that I may not have had anything to view it with before.

A new one, sixties music. Most of it is the Wimpy SQL player though. Have fun, John

http://www.johnvanhulst.com/sixties