What I mean about the link leading away from your site is that when you click it, it goes to the OTHER site you mentioned. Therefor closing your site as it does so.
Have it so that when people click the link, it opens the new sitw in a NEW window. That way your site AND the new site are open.
The mailing list thing... I don't know if it is just my screen but the box covered a load of text. It is as if the mailing list box has be placed on top of the other text?
I agree with TFC... use a plain background for better results and as he also mentioned, the contrast :-)