A Request for Blogging Advice

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At the suggestion of some kind readers I have begun thinking about switching The Hedgehog Blog to another service, which would allow me to do more with this blog.

My problem is, I am still pretty new to the world of blogging and, although I like computers, I do not know much about such arcane stuff as HTML. (Lest I be seen as too self-effacing, I am the proud author of everything that shows in my sidebar, so I have learned a lot. The only exception is my customized comment feature, which is called Metempsychosis Comments Hack 1.03 and was written by Ebenezer Orthodoxy.)

One reader said (flattering me): "You are a serious enough blogger I would suggest you consider looking to a hosted service with your own web page and using either Word Press or Movable Type."

Another blogger wrote:

We use Movable Type 3.14. I do like it better than Blogger, but it has its quirks. For example, there isn't a spell check feature and you have to type the HTML into the text as you type (in blogger you could toggle between HTML and normal page with HTML imbedded).

If I were you, I'd just buy the typepad service for ~$6/mo. We bought the full service because [a family member] has a server and he was willing to host the blog. If you have access to a sever (or want to pay to have it hosted), and you don't mind paying hundreds for a pro to design the templates, then go with the 3.14. But, if you want to use standard template - go with Typepad. Also, you might want to check out WordPress (http://wordpress.org/). I don't know much about that format, but our web designer uses it.

I do have access to a server and so maybe Typepad 3.14 makes sense. But what's this about "paying hundreds for a pro to design the templates?" Do I care about designing my own template?

And what does anyone know about WordPress?

Comments and suggestions are welcome, nay, solicited!

Thanks.