Troubleshoot Internet Connection Issue

Your network says it's connected, but for some reason it won't allow you to connect to the internet.

If you're having to read this from someone else's computer because yours won't connect to the internet, I may be able to help.

There are a variety of potential causes for this issue. If you search Microsoft's Knowledge Base articles, you'll probably not find a solution. They offer limited help.

If you are searching with Google, you'll probably find a whole array of different answers, for different reasons, and different scenarios. You might wind up trying 10 different "solutions" before you find what is actually wrong for you.

So if you can't get online from your computer, even though it claims you can, here's what you might want to try:

Best Backup of Full Blogger Template

Anyone that gives instructions for changing your Blogger template will first remind you to click "Download Full Template", before making any changes. Although it's important to do, there is a better way to do it if you have a customized template.


If your template is plain-Jane and you have no added widgets, you have no need for this information.

If you are like me and like to customize the heck out of your Blogger template, you'll want to keep reading.

Embed a Comment Form in Blogger Posts

There is a simple and easy way to embed a basic comment form into all your Blogger blog posts. You don't even need to edit the template.

Blogger has provided an "embedded comment form" option for you.

It's not the prettiest, but it gets the job done. If you have comments allowed but don't use an embedded form, all you'll get is a little link inviting readers to "Post a Comment" - very bland. It also requires additional steps for the reader.

Worst of all, it's easy to overlook.

The 3 Worst Blogging Mistakes to Avoid

There are three critical mistakes that I made when I first started, as a complete blogging beginner. These blatant oversights cost me in ways I don't even know. They were simple problems that I could have easily avoided, that would have provided me with more traffic, more readers, just...more, and better.

I originally started it for personal reasons only, and didn't care if anyone was reading it. Then I started thinking, "Why write something online if no one is going to read it?" That's when I started redesigning, editing, changing my blog around and experimenting with different styles.

But it was already too late.

Blogger Stats vs Google Analytics

Google Analytics provides a lot of knowledge, all rolled into one page (or, several). It also provides all sorts of terms that you may or may not have any knowledge of.

Blogger provides stats too, but they are severely limited. However, Blogger's stats are easier to read for the average user.

Which one is better? That depends on your needs.

Set Blogger Blog Title After Post Title

By default, Blogger automatically posts your blog's title before your post title.
Sometimes it's not that big of an issue.

Other times, it means someone won't visit your blog.

I noticed it on my own posts, once they appeared in Google's search results. It looks awkward and cuts off the portion of your title that you really want people to see.

It's definitely something you'll want to change.

How To Customize Your Blogger Post URL

I've been researching a bunch of different stuff when it comes to customizing Blogger, and Blogger, contrary to popular belief, actually seems to be quite customizable to me.

The difference comes in how it is customized in Blogger when compared to WordPress. In exchange for Blogger's sleek and easy-to-use interface, you have to settle for making a lot of customizations via edits to the template.

Most of the customizations I've had to look up, but I managed to figure out how to customize my post URL on my own.

Google Analytics Doesn't Match Blogger Stats? Don't Make the Same Mistake I Did!

I have been keeping track of my blog stats through both Blogger and Google Analytics. Everything was going pretty well, and it was fascinating to see how many visits I had versus the number of pageviews. I also like knowing how I'm being found through searches, and Blogger's stats are helpful but very basic. Google Analytics provides much more information in that regard. So when Blogger said that I'd achieved record numbers of pageviews (for my blog's life, not in comparison to other blogs), I was excited and curious to learn what Google Analytics would say.

*Drum Roll*... Nothing.

Best Free Imaged Editing Software (When You're Too Broke for Photoshop)

Microsoft Blog News Channel

I recently developed an interest in creating some forms of art (God forbid). I've created some logos lately that I thought looked pretty good (including the one for my blog), which was encouraging. I've actually always had some interest in taking really good, professional looking photos and being able to edit them though. Taking the recent photos and videos of the tornado aftermath and taking some photos of storm clouds and lightning (to be posted here in the very near future!) has helped pique this interest, even though it's been underlying for some time.

Even more fun though is to mess with photographs of people. I have a nephew that takes amazing, magazine-worthy photos with his $300 digital camera. $300 is a bit pricey for a digital camera but not in comparison to some of the models out there. I don't have $300 to spend on a fancy digital camera and I'm too prone to breaking expensive toys so I wanted to opt for a cheaper route but still learn some good photographing techniques.

MaxMyPC? CleanMyPC? How About InfectMyPC?

If you are not familiar with computers and software, then you may not be familiar with the good, the bad, and the ugly. And like they say, "knowledge is power" - once you familiarize yourself with "the bad" and "the ugly" (spyware, viruses, malware, trojans, worms, adware, etc) you'll be far less likely to fall for any of it, because you'll know when it's a scam.

In the meantime, however, there are countless promises of miracle programs that will solve any problem. When it comes to computers, you can't fall back on the sensible solution of "if it sounds too good to be true..." because if you are not aware of what can't be done quickly and easily, then you won't know what is an impossibly good promise.

When you see commercials on TV advertising sites such as "MyCleanPC", "MaxMySpeed" and "MaxMyPC" you may not realize how impossible the claim is that they are trying to make. These sites and similar ones like them (StopSign.com, DoubleMySpeed.com, etc) make extremely convenient-sounding promises. The commercials for these sites show people sternly warning you that if your computer is slow, it could indicate the presence of viruses, spyware, malware, trojans, adware, etc. Just as you're getting worried, the person in the commercial assures you that with one easy click of said program (MyCleanPC, MaxMySpeed, MaxMyPC, whichever) it would scan your PC for said programs and your computer would be sped up, with some supposed users claiming speed increases of 100%! Sounds excellent, right?

New Logo? How to Set Your Blogger Icon

I am proud to announce that I have a new logo for the site. I am using this logo on my other Desultory Thought site - http://www.desultorythought.blip.tv as well, and it's much smaller on there, so I am curious to know if it is decently easy to make out (the DT specifically).