    # File lib/merb-core/controller/abstract_controller.rb, line 558
        def absolute_url(*args)
          # FIXME: arrgh, why request.protocol returns http://?
          # :// is not part of protocol name
          options  = extract_options_from_args!(args) || {}
          protocol = options.delete(:protocol)
          host     = options.delete(:host)

          raise ArgumentError, "The :protocol option must be specified" unless protocol
          raise ArgumentError, "The :host option must be specified"     unless host

          args << options

          protocol + "://" + host + url(*args)
        end