theme or customization? can this be done?

[tdgobux]

I'm new to developing my blog. What I'd like to do is have separate pages for specific content. Right now, I'm using the cutline theme.
Can wordpress handle it where i have a home page for blogging, and separate pages for different topics - like dogs on one page and all links, rss etc for dogs, and then on another page all links, etc associated with cats.

I don't wish to have the same RSS feeds carry from page to page.

[ap4a]

Yes, you just need to create separate page templates for each page. Or, possibly more simply depending on precisely how you want it done, just create separate categories and category templates.

[tdgobux]

i think i understand - can you point me to an example of one?

[Rarst]

Take a look at this plugin
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-universe/

I hadn't used it myself but it seems like a fit for what you want.

[sarahG]

Can wordpress handle it where i have a home page for blogging, and separate pages for different topics - like dogs on one page and all links, rss etc for dogs, and then on another page all links, etc associated with cats.

I don't wish to have the same RSS feeds carry from page to page.

When you say links, what links do you mean? Links to posts on that subject on your site? Or external links?

I think hurricane's right. Use the category feature. You have a category called dogs and another called cats. Then the dogs category page would list all posts written about dogs. The RSS would be /category/dogs/feed/. The cats category page would list all posts about cats and the feed would be /category/cats/feed/

Otherwise, if the links are external links then create 2 static Pages, one for dogs the other for cats, and just add your content for each into the page. A page wouldn't typically have an RSS feed but you can use a page update notifier plugin so that people can subscribe by email to get alerts when you update a specific page.

[tdgobux]

Sometimes when a person doesn't know what they're talking about, they phrase a question incorrectly. I think what I'm asking for may be better off in a WebCMS after reading your responses.

So,
On the home page, I would like blog posts listed
I would like to create a second page and devote it to all things Football. That may mean having a different color scheme, or different widgets on the page. It could be that some of the posts from the home page are tagged football and show up there..
On Page 3 (or tab 3), I may want a different design for all things DVD.

After writing the above, what it comes across is alot like iGoogle where each for each tab, you can control the content and have separate themes.
And, I think the WP-Universe is similar, other than it does have separate subdomains - and it seems the site is down

When you say links, what links do you mean? Links to posts on that subject on your site? Or external links?

I think hurricane's right. Use the category feature. You have a category called dogs and another called cats. Then the dogs category page would list all posts written about dogs. The RSS would be /category/dogs/feed/. The cats category page would list all posts about cats and the feed would be /category/cats/feed/

Otherwise, if the links are external links then create 2 static Pages, one for dogs the other for cats, and just add your content for each into the page. A page wouldn't typically have an RSS feed but you can use a page update notifier plugin so that people can subscribe by email to get alerts when you update a specific page.

[sarahG]

Right okay, if you're comfortable with coding then you don't need the plugin. However, at this point I would advise not to change the colour scheme of your site for different pages. You'll just confuse your visitors and possibly make them think they've left your site completely.

Anyhow, if you're comfortable coding then you can do the following

Set up a standard WP site, your front page lists the last X posts as usual.
Create a Page template for this specific page, so open up your page.php theme file (or index.php if you don't have a page.php file). Insert just after the opening php tag

/*
* Template Name: Football
*/

To include say a list of blog posts categorised as football posts use the following code in the same file, just below the_content template tag

<?php $myposts = get_posts('numberposts=5&category=ID');
foreach($myposts as $post) :
setup_postdata($post);
//add in standard WordPress post specific template tags here eg. the_title(), the_permalink, the_content, the_excerpt etc.
endforeach; ?>

Where ID in the first line is your football category ID.

Upload the file to your template directory online.

Create a static Page for your football section. Add in your content at the top as usual. Scroll to the bottom and look for the tab Page Template. Open it up and select the one called Football from the drop down.

Publish the page (or Save and Preview).

If you're comfortable with a bit of code then it's pretty easy. If you're not then this plugin - http://aralbalkan.com/wordpress apparently does pretty much the same job but without the hassle of coding a page template (although I've not used it personally).