New look for the Gadfly

Longtime readers will remember some unfinished business about sprucing up the look of the Gadfly.  The contest itself was not well-attended at first, but after a second call two of this blog's three readers submitted entries.  Choosing a winner was unfortunately sidelined by my attempts at journalism (which are overdue an explanation), but Google just added a bunch of new features and layouts which kicked the idea back into the light of day.

John Bligh contributed the winning design, and even updated it after he saw the new blog layout.  Fill in your own symbolism in the space below:

Contest Extension

We've only gotten one-and-a-half entries to the banner contest for the Gadfly blog, so it will be extended. Please feel free to comment here if you have an idea for a more exciting prize that might appeal to graphic artists. I know I can specifically ask some (Matt Maley and Bill Mulcahy come to mind), but I'd rather just seek help in advertising the contest and getting entries.

Contest will continue until, oh, the rain stops for three days in a row. No, that's horrible, just kidding, let's push it out through July or until we get give entries, whichever comes first.

Graphic Gadfly Goodness!

It's time for this blog to look a little more like New Paltz.

It's time for this blog to find a way to allow people who don't prefer writing to express gadflyish views.

So, we're having a contest to design a banner for the New Paltz Gadfly. Here are the rules:

1. The banner should be appropriately sized to look good replacing the text at the top of the page. I can't give you the specifics, which is one of the reasons why we're having a contest in the first place.
2. The graphic should include "New Paltz Gadfly" in it.
3. Don't include anything that will become dated quickly, such as the names or images of current elected officials. Try to make a design that will make as much sense in ten years as it does now.
4. If you submit a design, you agree to allow your submission to be used on, and elsewhere for the promotion of, this blog.
5. Entries will be posted without entrant names so that readers may comment. Anonymous comments won't be permitted on those posts.
6. The winner's name and entry will be announced after the contest ends. The names of the other entrants will be added to their entries at this time, if and only if they agree.
7. Contest entries must be emailed in png, gif, or jpg format to terence@terencepward.com no later than June 30, 2009.

And prizes?
Acclamation, acclamation, and more acclamation. If you have an idea for a prize that you would want, send it along with the entry. If it's doable, your prize may just be the prize, even if you don't win!