Minor metamorphoses

I am trying some new looks to improve readability on the blog. If anyone has any feedback about this, please let me know. I love the deep-dark background, but I'm told it's hard on the eyes, so I'm thinking of something a little more... parchment-like? (It's hard, because you can think you've got it perfect, and then discover--say, when you sit up straighter--that perfection includes the precise angle of your laptop screen.) Without, however, re-designing the whole look of the place.

There are a few glitches in the sidebar, so please be patient for a bit while I get the colors sorted out. Not all of the gadgets respond to the one-size-fits-all html, apparently.

I hope to finish this molting during the next week or so.