Blogs

Congratulations, newbie-no-more, you've mastered the bare bones basics of HTML web development as covered in the last Teach Yourself Tech. Now what? In this resource roundup, take those coding skills to the next level by getting to know the new standards of the web — HTML5 and CSS3.

Step 1: Discover the World of HTML5
As a markup language built for a mobile world, HTML5 is the future of the Internet. Try accessing GeekSugar.com from a smartphone; the mobile version of the site, an entirely new format optimized for small touch screens, will appear — that's the power of HTML5.

• Discover why HTML5 Rocks, but don't worry if you don't understand all of the terms just yet; we'll get to that later.
• There's a lot this new HTML is capable of, like 3D graphics, offline viewing, and new audio/video tools. The Web Can Do That!? covers all the amazing features of HTML5, complete with cat memes.
• To learn what HTML5 is all about and laugh along the way, look no further than Mark Pilgrim's Dive Into HTML5.

Learn the lingo, master the markup, and take your HTML5 and CSS3 skills for a spin after the break.

School is now in session! After a lazy Summer in the sun, there's no time like the present to put your brain back into high gear. Keep those smarts sharp by taking on this new challenge: teaching yourself how to code your own webpage. We've explored the business of starting your own blog, but what about building one from the ground up? In this beginner-friendly rundown, we start with the fundamentals of the web: how it works and the technical resources to bookmark to create your own website using HTML and CSS.

Step One: Know the Basics
How does the World Wide Web work, anyway? Get a grip on how websites go from server to screen.

• Don't Fear the Internet is the ultimate web resource for non-web designers. Start with "No. 1 Not a Series of Tubes," a demystification of the Internet and its workings, and then work your way up to No. 5, "Don't Fear Starting From Scratch, Part 2: CSS."
• Still baffled by how a World Wide Web actually works in its literal sense? Watch the enlightening TED talk What Is the Internet, Really? by Andrew Blum about the underwater cables and secret switches that make up the Internet's physical infrastructure.

What's next? Find out how to learn HTML and CSS and what to do with your newfound skills after the jump.

Did GoDaddy's site outage have you questioning how your website lives? The world's largest domain registrar and one of the biggest website hosts, GoDaddy.com was hacked yesterday, causing websites hosted by the company to be down. Even worse: any site whose domain was registered with GoDaddy, even if the host site is elsewhere, was inaccessible.

If the mess has you rethinking your service with GoDaddy or you just want to do some price shopping comparison, then check out these domain alternatives.

The business of building your own website may seem a bit daunting, but we've outlined some of the key steps to make it a simpler, more streamlined process. Whether you're starting a personal blog or designing a site to go along with a product or business, these tips are sure to help you through the task. Take on your piece of the Internet with our guide on everything from picking a platform to copyrighting a domain name.

1. Choose a platform — First and foremost, you should research and decide on an appropriate site platform. If you're writing a blog, then you may want to consider WordPress, OnSugar, or Blogger. For a more universal platform, try free sites like Webs and Webnode.
2. Brainstorm branding and content — Before you launch your site, narrow down your vision. What are your goals? What would you like it to become as time goes on? Keeping your plans specific will help you develop a fitting name and relevant, related content.
3. Consider the domain name — When you're deciding on a URL, it's important to think about wording, spelling, and length. Make sure to choose a domain that visitors will be able to remember, and pick a phrase that suits your material. Once you've settled on a name, follow our tips for registering the domain to secure your slice of the web.
4. Look into trademark and copyright options — Educate yourself on the nature and purpose of copyright and trademark opportunities, then do a bit of research to see if it's something you may want to pursue. This is especially valuable if you're planning to share your own creative content, like stories or photography.

Read on for more tips to create a website.

When you create your own blog or website, building an audience can be tricky. You want to establish relationships without seeming pushy or overeager. We've narrowed down three main steps to consider when working to gain online readers: comments, social media interactions, and advertising opportunities. If you hope to boost your web presence, then follow these dos and don'ts of Internet networking.

Comments

• Do identify other websites that you admire, and become an active follower of them. Comment regularly and interact with the author to let them know that you appreciate the content.
• Don't comment on other blogs and ask the writers to follow your site too. It's a bold move that can come off in a negative way. Chances are, if you leave nice comments, they're likely to click on your username anyway.

Keep reading for tips on how to use social media and advertising when getting your blog off the ground.

You don't have to be a coding or design expert to create a sleek, visually appealing website. The Internet has plenty of reputable creative resources to get you headed in the right aesthetic direction — you just need to know where to look. Planning to start your own blog or website? Follow these tips to develop a polished design.

1. Use a standard template provided by the platform — If you're working with a site like Blogger or OnSugar, the platform will feature a variety of blog designs to choose from. Once you've picked a template, you can add coding to tweak the layout. Not sure how to code? A quick Google search will give you plenty of tutorials.
2. Visit design blogs for unique downloads — To create a more professional, streamlined look, you can visit reputable design blogs as a resource. For cool add-ons and artistic design elements, try popular sites like Pugly Pixel and Blog Milk.
3. Find a graphic designer whose work you admire — Love the layout of a certain blog or website? Check the sidebar and footer to see if the site's designer has been credited. If you can't find a name or link, reach out to the site's owner and ask for a recommendation.

Have you started your own blog or website? Share your design tips in the comments below!

Sources: WordPress and Katrina Tan

>> Every time Karl Lagerfeld opens his mouth, he says something newsworthy — and now that he has his own website, he'll be that much more quotable that much faster.

The new site, Karl.com, was created mostly to sell the masstige line he designed for Net-a-Porter, and it will also host his higher-end Karl Lagerfeld Paris collection when it debuts this fall. The best non-shopping part of the site is the "World of Karl," where you can find out things like where he gets his glasses or what project he's working on next. But the most fun posts are the ones that simply quote Lagerfeld directly. A sampling of his musings, below:

On scheduling: "If someone gives me a to-do list, I say, "Thank you, this is nice." One needs things to throw in the wastebasket."

On his temper: "I know how annoying, impossible and hard to please I can be. I wouldn't recommend myself as a guest to anyone."

On where his inspiration comes from: "The best things I've done in my life, I saw them in my sleep. This is why I have a sketch book in my bed."

On cleanliness: "If you put things away in a too tidy way, then you will only find what you are looking for. You will never be surprised, nor delighted by fortuitous discoveries."

The Awkward Family Photos blog got a book deal back in August, which seems like forever ago in Internet-meme time. This week, the Awkward Family Photos coffee-table book is finally out, along with Sh*t My Dad Says, inspired by the brilliant Twitter feed of the same name.

I'm happy to see my favorite blogs and microblogs succeed, but I must admit, the blog-to-book concept puzzles me somewhat. The beauty of sites like Awkward Family Photos and Stuff White People Like is that they are perfectly suited to the blog medium, with its constantly updated, collaborative nature.

Sure, some blog concepts can be reimagined for print, but taking a vibrant blog and essentially reproducing it in static book form seems counterintuitive. My friend has a copy of the Stuff White People Like book, which was fun to read once, but every time I pick it up, it's the same — no updates! — while the blog keeps going.

That said, if anyone wants to give us a book deal, I'm sure we can work something out.

The James Beard Foundation Awards — the culinary world's Oscars equivalent — kicked off last night with its media portion. Among the winners? In books, Thomas Keller's Ad Hoc at Home nabbed general cooking book honors (the award will look good next to last week's IACP nod). Travel Channel's Andrew Zimmern won in the television category for Best TV Food Personality, beating out Alton Brown and Rick Bayless. CHOW took best food website honors, and Serious Eats won the top food blog category.

See the full list of winners, after the break.