As I explained in my edit summary, the layout has to look right in all screen modes. There is simply too little text for your layout to work in 800x600 - you probably have been viewing on a flat-screen monitor. In 800x600 there is a thin column of text that meets your delicate and tactful description of a "visually ugly mess". I have now restructured the layout in a way that looks fine in all modes and I hope will meet approval with your "discerning eye".