Website Theming Updates - November 2021

    This weekend I upgraded several aspects of the software and found that we now have a new set of "Dark" themes that will likely be more satisfactory than the old ones. I am leaving the "Default" theme with the light blue "Radiant" theme (because I understand that "most people" prefer light themes, and we Epicureans always play to the crowd, ya know..... ;) ) However I prefer dark themes myself, and I think anyone who uses a dark theme should try out a couple of the Radiant Dark versions to see if they prefer them. As you know that's easy to do from your phone or desktop by scrolling to the bottom of any page, select "Change Style," and then simply click on one of the available options. Let me know if you have any questions about theming issues.

    I would never have thought it, but in trying it I am actually now preferring the "Radiant transparent" theme, which has the top of a mountain as a background image. I'm not sure that a mountain is the best image - might hint of Stoics climbing their mountain of virtue - but the blue sky works well to set off the page on desktop and mobile. This might actually be the most advanced-looking theme of them all. Dark, but not too dark.

    Today I tweaked the font color on the new "Radiant" themes to:

    (1) make the color of the top bar a little less "radiant" - toning it down from effectively neon to a little darker, and

    (2) made the color of the text in the main body of the website a little brighter, and less subdued and therefore (hopefully) easier to read.

    If anyone sees any problem with those changes or would prefer further tweaking please let me know!

    Quote from Cassius

    I would never have thought it, but in trying it I am actually now preferring the "Radiant transparent" theme, which has the top of a mountain as a background image. I'm not sure that a mountain is the best image - might hint of Stoics climbing their mountain of virtue - but the blue sky works well to set off the page on desktop and mobile. This might actually be the most advanced-looking theme of them all. Dark, but not too dark.

    Epicurus uses this word AKRON - AKPON - ἄκρον - /'aːkron/ - an infection of ἄκρος (ákros) meaning “highest”, “end”, “extremity”, referring to the ends of the magnitude of pleasure (KD4), that carries the connotation of a "peak" or “mountain top”. While the "mountain top" stirs images of bitter cold, thin air, and bracing wind, there is a semantic connection between Epicureanism and a symbolic mountain in the Doxai. (This theme also happens to be my favorite, though, it is a little chilly!)

    Yes I thought about that issue too. That background picture came as the default for the theme, and when I saw it I asked myself "Hmm is this more Epicurean or more Stoic?" I think it's tempting to always associate Epicurean philosophy with lush gardens or pastoral scenes, but I agree Nate - for the reasons you stated - that this scene can be harmonized to suit our purposes very well.