Do we really need your blog hogging so much prime real estate in the upper left? Sicne it's mostly static content and of interest to a minority of players it should be at the bottom. I love the direct link to all new forum posts (1 click instead of 6 or 7 to check for new posts on two forums). I like the ladders there too. New maps is cool and not too big.

Integrated chat and/or internal messaging would be great too.

Yeah, older layout was better. Bring the blog back into the Community menu instead.

older layout didn't have 2v2 on it..
Personally, I'd prefer to have the maps further down, similar to where they were before. The blog further off to the right *albiet might be a problem for smaller monitors* With the Ladders on the left

yeah, maps and ladder should be reversed

blog shoudl be below the fold -- near the bottom

I think the blog is fine on top, but it should be switched with forum posts unless he starts to make a lot more blog post about developments.