As part of the "New Blogger", a custom domain feature was implemented allowing you to point a domain name you own at your blogspot blog. I did this with WITFITS some time ago, meaning that you no longer have to type witfits.blogspot.com, you can use the more personalized www.katonian.net. The old address continues to work--it simply redirects to the new domain--meaning you don't have to worry about outside links to your site or content suddenly breaking.

One problem people like myself discovered was that with the instructions given by Blogger on how to do this, you end up with only the www version of your custom domain pointing to your blog. That is to say, originally www.katonian.net would work, but simply typing katonian.net into your browser would not (in my case it sent me to a landing page at GoDaddy). To fix the problem of the non www domain name not pointing to Blogger, I simply had to log into GoDaddy (my registrar) and use the forwarding option to specify that katonian.net points to www.katonian.net. Bingo bango, it was all working correctly in a few minutes.

As a service to others who might use GoDaddy and Blogger together to set up a custom domain for their blog, here is a modified reprint of the Blogger directions including the "fix" I mentioned above. Hope it proves helpful.

Culled from Blogger Help: How do I use a custom domain name on my blog? and Blogger Help: How do I create a CNAME record for my custom domain?

Acquire A Domain Name And Point It To Your Blog (GoDaddy instructions)

1. The first step is to search for an available domain and purchase it. It can be .com, .net, .info--whatever you want. The process is out of the scope of this post, but you're probably looking for the cheapest deal since you won't need anything other than the domain (i.e. you really don't need any fancy hosting services or what not). One extra you might consider, though, is using the Private Domain Registration service. It costs a small fee, but the purpose is to hide your personal information behind a proxy company. The name, address, and telephone number of the person who registers a domain is part of a publicly available database known as the WHO-IS system. Since some of us aren't exactly comfortable just putting that information out there where everyone can see it, this service allows us to mask that.
2. Once you have your domain purchased, log into your account at www.godaddy.com.
3. Open the Domains tab and select My Domain Names. You'll be directed to the Domain Control Center.
4. Click on the link to the domain you are interested in modifying (i.e. the one you just bought).
5. Click the Total DNS Control And MX Records link. This will take you to the Total DNS Control Panel.
6. Click the Add a New CNAME Record button.
7. For the Enter an Alias Name, enter only the subdomain of the address you want to use for your blog. For example, I wanted www.katonian.net as my address, so I enter www here. For Points To Host Name, enter ghs.google.com. Press OK button when done.
   
8. Now, in my case, www.katonian.net points to Blogger, but katonian.net does not. To fix this, click on Domains to return to the Domain Control Center.
9. Click on the Forward arrow button in the menu bar.
10. Check the Enabled radio button and set Forward To to your domain including the www, so in my case I enter www.katonian.net. Press OK button to finish.

Set Up Blogger To Use Your New Custom Domain For Your Blog

1. At this point, you have a domain name, and the DNS servers know to direct people to Google when they want to see your blog. But Google hosts lots of blogs, so you have to make sure the right one is associated with your custom domain. Log in at www.blogger.com and click on the Settings link for the blog in question.
2. Click the Publishing link on the Settings tab.
3. Click the Switch to Custom Domain link.
4. Fill in your full domain, in my case www.katonian.net, in the box provided.
5. Click Save Settings at the bottom.

You're done. It may take anywhere up to a day or two before your custom domain name starts working.

Because if so then I just walked past a woman in the hall who had apparently bathed in it.

Follow your nose, indeed.

This weekend TNT HD is showing the Lord of the Rings Trilogy in high def.

*sproing*

Let's just say this excites me greatly. I'm watching Fellowship as I write this. 1080i high definition, Dolby Digital Surround Sound, and widescreen (though apparently slightly zoomed as it bears no bars on top or bottom, even though I'm sure the footage was not shot in 16:9).

Needless to say it looks awesome, though TNT has commercials which is highly annoying. I don't know the running time, but it's gotta be like 4 hours with all the commercial breaks. *sigh*

I recently acquired the HD-DVD drive for the Xbox 360, so I eagerly await the release of LoTR on HD-DVD. I don't know when that might be, but it can't be soon enough.

Incidentally, if you were wondering what high definition gives you in terms of picture quality, check out this cool comparison of the Fellowship of the Ring in HD vs DVD. Mouse over the screenshots to see the difference. Screenshots don't compare to seeing it on a nice, bright, large-screen television, but it at least shows how the extra resolution of high definition enhances the sharpness of the image.

Several moons ago a very nice young woman named Tara sent me a very nice young e-mail. She immediately struck me as someone who had good taste. Granted that's probably because she started off her e-mail by complimenting me on my general awesomeness (true, true). But that's beside the point. She wrote me to tell me about a new tool for bloggers called Lijit.

Here's how she described it:

We at Lijit Networks have developed a Personal Network Search which is a kind of vertical search that revolves around a person, their online content and their network. Basically, our wijit (a creative reworking of the widget) will allow your readers to not only search your blog site but also your del.icio.us or magnolia bookmarks, anything that presents itself as an RSS feed (flickr, youtube, etc.) or other sources that you have marked as trusted.

A benefit to you is that you get a better sense of your audience, what they are searching you about and what topics they believe you to be an expert. And your readers benefit by having the opportunity to access relevant search results gleaned from your collective online expertise.

Of course I installed the wijit right away. Unfortunately I found out about it after I had almost completed the plans for the "new" template that is currently in place here. So, the wijit didn't make it into that code until just this week when I finally got around to figuring out how I might include it without breaking something else (even programmers follow the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mantra). You can see it if you click the "Search..." button above, which through the magic of javascript and css, shows/hides the search bar. The "Suprise Me" button is pretty fun: it takes you to a random page in my collective content, whether it be a blog post, bookmarked page, flickr photo, etc.

Lijit is definitely a cool way to allow readers to search the multitude of networks we all belong to in this information-saturated Internet of ours. As of writing this, Lijit supports searching blogs, Blink List, Blue Dot, ClipMarks, del.ici.ous, digg, Furl, Ma.gnolia, reddit, Stumble Upon, flickr, YouTube, LinkedIn, Live Journal, MySpace, Twitter, MyBlogLog, Facebook, and the option to add the URLs/RSS feeds of any other services not listed. It's pretty thorough. In addition, Lijit has the concept of a "network" of "trusted informers", a list of people whose content can be included in results when a user searches your content. So, if miss Tara Anderson, Lijit evangelist, is in my network, and you search me for say "Transformers slash fiction", Lijit will return a list of my blog posts, articles dugg, YouTube videos, flickr photos, etc. on the topic, in addition to places where Tara has done so as well.

In addition there is a stats section to show you how people are searching your site, and for what, with a nice amount of data to pore over (pie charts ftw!) It gives you the opportunity to ponder, like me, who it is that is searching your blog for nude pictures of Amber MacArthur.

They welcome feedback from bloggers, and seem to regularly update the service with new or improved features. You can find out more at the Lijit website, and while you're there you might as well sign up and grab the code of the wijit for your blog. And if the features weren't enough to convince you to at least try it out, I suggest checking out this video. Personally, I like my Web 2.0 companies funky, and wearing parachute pants.

I recently welcomed a new member to my family. He's a big boy at 62 feet and around 55,000 lbs, but I love him just the same. Say hello to Starscream:


The description of the Decepticon lieutenant from the box is as follows:

Leading the hunt for the AllSpark during the absence of Megatron on Earth has given Starscream a taste for command. He has experienced firsthand the brutality that allows Megatron to maintain control over his Decepticon legions. It is a style of leadership that Starscream takes to with gusto, punishing disobedience without mercy and rewarding success only with a narrowed eye and threatening gesture. He craves ultimate control, and looks forward to the day when Megatron makes the mistake that allows Starscream the opportunity to slip a jagged shard of steel between his processor clusters.

Although this toy version is a little browner than in the movie, and lacks any Decepticon logos in robot form which I was slightly disappointed by, I still think he looks pretty badass standing there menacingly (actually, this pose is better but I wasn't that creative when I snapped my shot). Although in general I have disliked the "every toy/action figure must have giant spring-propelled missiles" trend in design, his arm mounted launchers are actually pretty cool.

I'll probably pick up a couple of other characters from the movie line if the toys look cool enough (this one is from the "Voyager" series, which seems to be a little bit more complex and interesting). I am drooling over this completely awesome Ultimate Bumblebee... too bad it's 120 bucks! More than meets the wallet, I'm afraid.

Superbad = Superawesome.

At least for someone like me who doesn't mind crude language and sexual humor. The three main characters reminded me of me in high school, only slightly cooler.

Plus it features Michael Cera, who some of you may remember from Arrested Development ("George Michael"). I'm becoming a big fan of his--he plays "awkward" very well. You should check out his internet television series Clark and Michael, an amusing mockumentary following the titular characters' attempts to write and sell a television pilot to the networks.

Watch Clark and Michael and go see Superbad. And tell McLovin he's the fucking pimp.

Fuck yes! [mouthgasm]

Seriously people.

It's always interesting trying to decide who would play you in a movie. Recently I've settled upon Shia LaBeouf. I've Photoshopped his picture (see sidebar) to show you what he'd look like playing my part. It's uncanny.

Since everyone loves lists, here are 10 Reasons I Want Shia LaBeouf To Play Me In A Movie:

1. He's so hot right now.
2. Big eyebrows. The actor playing me must look like he has two caterpillars sleeping on his forehead.
3. Wavy/curly hair. The perfect movie Kato is the one that when you first see him you just want to go up and give his hair a good tussle.
4. He's Indiana Jones' kid in the upcoming movie. I own a Fedora. Nuff said.
   
5. He's made out with Megan Fox which, by the Transitive Property, means I will have made out with Megan Fox if LaBeouf plays me in a movie.
   
6. Sorry, I'm still thinking about the awesomeness of #5.
7. His last name is a misspelling of "The Beef" in French and I, of course, love beef.
8. He's Jewish and I enjoy Matzah Ball soup, which would make those scenes in the movie more authentic. He should really look like he's enjoying the soup.
9. Adam Goldberg is probably busy.
   
10. He could introduce me to Optimus Prime.
    

Ghost of Douglas Adams, please forgive me for misappropriating that quote.

Suggest a Topic Week has come and gone, and WITFITS returns to it's regularly schedule blogging. Which follows an irregular schedule. Don't think too hard about that one.

Thank you to everyone who wrote in with topic suggestions for my little experiment. It was different and challenging. Hopefully the post quality met your high standards.

I think every kid/kid-in-an-adult-body has dreamed about having superheroic powers and how unquestionably awesome it would be to use them. The question of what the best (and worst) superpowers are and how they could be used (and misused) are as old as comics themselves. Of course, in the early days they had dubious superpowers like "faster than a speeding bicycle!" and "stronger than Dr. Withertonne's Peppermint Liniment!" and "able to vex the Kaiser!" We've fortunately come a long way in our many years of comic-y goodness, and have a much more interesting palette to choose from.

I am, however, a practical and reasonable man. I don't consider myself a hero, and therefore wouldn't consider myself a superhero if I had some superpowers. After all, I am incalculably awesome, but it's not like I go around proclaiming I'm Awesome Man. At least not until I can secure the trademark and the t-shirts get printed up. So, when it comes to superpowers, I think I would judge them on how best they might suit my needs as an average, non-superheroic being. Here are a few I've considered.

Accelerated Healing (ex. Wolverine)
Not facing danger on a daily basis, the ability to heal quickly is not as important to a person such as myself. On the other hand, my semi-superheroic ability to stub my toe on any surface within 20 inches of either foot would make this handier than you might expect. Factor in the chance that at any moment my clumsiness could result in serious bodily harm and you've got a decently compelling argument.
Usefulness: 5. Coolness: 5. Likeliness it'll get me laid: 0.

Echolocation (ex. Daredevil)
Unless I forget to pay the electric bill, or arrows blot out the sun, I don't think I'll be needing this anytime soon. As a man who is fortunate enough to not be lacking any of the five senses, I wouldn't find this improving my quality of life very much. Besides, it would probably be easier to just carry a flashlight.
Usefulness: 2. Coolness: 4. Likeliness it'll get me laid: -4. Annoyance Factor: 7.

Fireworks (ex. Jubilee)
Are you kidding me? Fireworks? Seriously, that can be a superpower? That comes in handy like once, maybe twice, a year. I wouldn't take this power if it came free as a bonus with the purchase of another power.
Usefulness: -10. Likeliness it'll get me laid: 0. Lameness as a superpower: 11.

Flight/Levitation (ex. Superman)
I think I'd opt to just be able to hover a dozen or so feet off the ground rather than truly fly. Besides my crippling fear of heights higher than my coffee table, I just don't see the need to go flying about. Sure it would save on airfare, but why do all the work when you can pay someone to cart your lazy ass around? Plus the bugs-in-teeth factor would really kill the novelty. A quick hover, though, would be useful for reaching those high kitchen or grocery store shelves, and at the rate I lose Frisbees on roofs it would pay for itself in no time.
Usefulness: 5. Coolness: 5. Likeliness it'll get me laid: 2.

Intangibility/Phasing (ex. Kitty Pride)
I guess it would reduce the wear and tear on my doorknobs.
Usefulness: 1. Coolness: 3. Likeliness it'll get me laid: 1.

Invisibility (ex. Invisible Woman)
It would be difficult for me to come up with many practical uses for this power that aren't somehow criminal or, at the very least, exceptionally lascivious. It's the kind of power that teenage boys dream about. As an adult though, that lure is tempting but, really, with the kind of things you can find on the Internet, it somewhat pales in comparison (I mean, after all, even if I can turn Invisible, how am I going to get into Jessica Biel's dressing room?) I suppose it might be useful for dodging survey-takers, Jehova's Witnesses, and my boss, so I can't rule it out completely.
Usefulness: 4. Coolness: 7. Likeliness it'll get me laid: -2.

Magnetism/Magnetic Manipulation (ex. Magneto)
As a computer guy, being magnetic seems like a liability more than anything. I'm good enough at crashing hard-drives without the power.
Usefulness: -2. Coolness: 1. Likeliness it'll get me laid: 0.

Spider Sense/Precognition (ex. Spider-Man)
I have to admit, a certain amount of precognition would come in handy, assuming I could bend it toward something other than the avoidance of immediate danger (similar to reasons given against Healing Factor). It would be nice to know when the boss was about to come down to my office and dump a load of work in my lap. Or when a telemarketer or religious charity was about to call. It would be really nice to know when the girlfriend was about to, you know, not-be-able-to-go-swimming. It would have been particularly nice in the age before TiVo ("Kato Sense is tingling... My show is about to start!")
Usefulness: 5. Coolness: 5. Likeliness it'll get me laid: 2 (but at least I'll know for sure ahead of time)

Superhuman Intelligence (ex. Kato)
Already have it.
Usefulness: 1. Coolness. -5. Likeliness it'll get me laid: Track record speaks for itself.

Super Speed (ex. The Flash)
The advantages for travel are obviated by the fact that I hate running. On the upside I suppose I could finish my chores and other mundane tasks in no time. On the down side, it would probably carry over into the bedroom as well.
Usefulness: 2. Coolness: 1. Likeliness it'll get me laid: -5.

Super Strength (ex. Superman)
I think superhuman strength would be nice, but overkill. Handy when opening jars, but a liability when, say, playing Xbox or petting small woodland creatures. Lots of busted controllers and furry little broken necks. I think I'd opt for above-human strength, like a Vulcan perhaps.
Usefulness: 6. Coolness: 2. Likeliness it'll get me laid: 3.

Wallcrawling (ex. Spider-Man)
Certainly impressive, but I rarely find myself with the need to climb a wall. I would save money on carabiners, but honestly a guy like me only uses those to carry his keys. It falls short of flight/levitation.
Usefulness: 2. Coolness: 6. Likeliness it'll get me laid: 1.

X-ray Vision (ex. Super-Man)
Barring a career in osteopathy, the only uses I can see for this involve wilfull invasions of privacy. I guess I could save on electricity by using it to peer through the refrigerator door instead of just standing there with it open for 20 minutes trying to find that cold chicken drumstick from a week ago.
Usefulness: 2. Coolness: 4. Likeliness it'll get me laid: -1.


The preceding was part of the first annual WITFITS Suggest A Topic Week, where the readers suggested a topic for me to write about. See here for details.