Modifying a theme, need some (code)expert help please

Hi guys,

I am in the process of changing my theme. I have found a very simple nice looking theme that I really like. But I need to modify it, some of those changes can be made with plug ins, but I like the hands on approach where I can change the codes and learn as I go instead of adding a new plug-in every time I need to modify something. Plus, I have heard that too many plug-ins might slow down the load time.

Anyway, I am not very technical, so I need some help to make sure I am doing it right. I have been spending the past 2 days trying to figure things out and change things one by one. I just need those of you who know about theme and coding to look at these codes and see if there is anything wrong with them. I would really appreciate your help.


By the way the theme I am trying to modify is Thechnoholic.


The bottom footer has 3 section whcih were originally (left) Recent Entries (center) Archive (right) Meta

But I wanted to change it to (left) Recent Comments (center) Blogroll (right) other (links like contact me, privacy policy and etc)




Original Bottom Menu Center code:

<div id="bottommenu_center" class="menu">
<?php if ( !function_exists('dynamic_sidebar') || !dynamic_sidebar('bottommenu_center') ) : ?>
<h3><?php _e('Archives','sh');?></h3>
<ul>
<?php wp_get_archives('type=monthly'); ?>
</ul>
<?php endif; ?>
</div>


Changed to:

<div id="bottommenu_center" class="menu">
<?php if ( !function_exists('dynamic_sidebar') || !dynamic_sidebar('bottommenu_center') ) : ?>
<h3><?php _e('Blogroll','sh');?></h3>
<ul>
<li><a title="link1" href="http://www.linknumber1.com" target="_blank">link1</a></li>
<li><a title="link2" href="http://www.linknumber2.com" target="_blank">link2</a></li>
</ul>
<?php endif; ?>
</div>





Original Bottom Menu Right code:


<div id="bottommenu_right" class="menu">
<?php if ( !function_exists('dynamic_sidebar') || !dynamic_sidebar('bottommenu_right') ) : ?>
<h3><?php _e('Meta','sh');?></h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://validator.w3.org/check/referer" title="This page validates as XHTML 1.0 Transitional">Valid <abbr title="eXtensible HyperText Markup Language">XHTML</abbr></a></li>
<li><a href="http://gmpg.org/xfn/"><abbr title="XHTML Friends Network">XFN</abbr></a></li>
<?php wp_meta(); ?>
</ul>

<?php endif; ?>
</div>




Changed to:

<div id="bottommenu_right" class="menu">
<?php if ( !function_exists('dynamic_sidebar') || !dynamic_sidebar('bottommenu_right') ) : ?>
<h3><?php _e('other','sh');?></h3>
<ul>

<li><a title="SiteMap" href="http://www.blogstash.com/sitemap/" target="_self">SiteMap</a></li>
<li><a title="Contact " href="http://www.blogstash.com/contact-me/" target="_self">Contact Me</a></li>

<?php wp_meta(); ?>
</ul>



Are all the codes right? I am kind of worried about the last parts of them (colored in green), I know it should be changed, but I don't know to what and how?




Original Bottom Menu Left code:
(This one I am having trouble changing it)

<div id="bottommenu_left" class="menu">
<?php if ( !function_exists('dynamic_sidebar') || !dynamic_sidebar('bottommenu_left') ) : ?>
<h3><?php _e('Recent Entries','sh');?></h3>
<ul>
<?php wp_get_archives('type=postbypost&limit=8'); ?>
</ul>
<?php endif; ?>
</div>


I need this to be "Recent comment" instead of "Recent Entries". However, when I change the wp_get_archives to wp_get_comment, the whole bottom footer disappears. Isn't that the right code for calling comments?... How can I do this?


Thank you very much In advance. I am sorry, I know its a lot of codes.