PostBadge tag to show // FeedBurner FeedFlare. // ------------------------- // FeedBurner account and feed required. // Sign up at http://feedburner.com //================================================ class module_feedflare { function init(){ global $gregarious; $gregarious->add_settings ( array ( 'feedburner_url' => '' ) ); $gregarious->add_page ( 'FeedFlare', 'modules/feed-flare/icn_Flare.png', 'page_feedflare();', 'feedFlare' ); } function postbadge_tags(){ return array ( array ( 'tag' => '%FLARE%', 'replacewith' => 'feed_flare("",false)' ), ); } function update_info(){ return 100; } } //------------------------------------------ // TEMPlATE TAGS //------------------------------------------ function feed_flare($settings = '', $echo = true){ global $wp_query; $post = $wp_query->post; $sets = array('postID' => $post->ID, 'before' => '', 'after' => 'Gregarious FeedFlare', 'force' => 0 ); grab_sets($settings, $sets); if ( !$sets['force'] && hideOnID($sets['postID']) ){ return ''; } if( !$path = _get_feedburner_url() ) return ''; if( substr( $path, -1 ) == '/' ){ $path = substr( $path, 0, strlen( $path ) -1 ); } $path = str_replace ( 'feedburner.com/', 'feedburner.com/~s/', $path ); $path .= '?i='.get_permalink($sets['postID']); $result = $sets['before'] . "" . $sets['after']; if($echo) echo $result; else return $result; } function _get_feedburner_url(){ $feedurl = greg_get_option( 'feedburner_url' ); if ( $feedurl ){ return attribute_escape($feedurl); } else { $feedburner_settings = get_option('feedburner_settings'); if( is_array($feedburner_settings) && ($feedurl = $feedburner_settings['feedburner_url']) ) { return attribute_escape($feedurl); } else { return false; } } } //------------------------------------------ // OPTIONS PAGE //------------------------------------------ function page_feedflare(){ $feedurl = _get_feedburner_url(); ?> 2008 November Archive at spencerb.net

Archive for November, 2008

How Will Conservatives Reach Out to Obama?

Published on November 19, 2008 in Politics. 0 Comments

Note: this post has been incubating for a while and I decided to publish it in its current form. Part of an effort to get back into political musings.

I am of the belief that this is a critical issue for the GOP to resolve. Conservatives cannot mimic what the Democrats did for the last eight years. I have a post titled “Bush 43″ that has been ruminating in my draft section for more than six months. Bush is not popular among the vast majority of the country, but he is also hated among the vast majority of liberals. This really bothers me, I don’t want to mime this ridiculous behavior.

I have noticed evidence of conservatives reaching out to Obama. One, he campaigned on promises of bipartisanship. Granted, he won, he gets the spoils of that. (No one is expecting a fairness doctrine-esque regulation of the cabinet). Two, every conservative wants to see policies implemented that are best for the country. That doesn’t happen by alienating everyone! Ironically, only a strong Obama presidency will result in this outcome. A strong presidency will be guided by the beliefs of the nation, a moderate-conservative standpoint. I think that we can see this move to the center in Bill Clinton’s presidency.

Update: Recently, we have Obama reaching out to McCain in a formal meeting. Also, Obama has indicated he might keep on Defense Secretary Gates. I hope we see more of this kind of “reaching across the aisle”. It needs to go both ways though because conservatives will absurdly alienate themselves otherwise.

Crazy, Non-Sensical Video

Published on November 18, 2008 in Music and Northwestern. 0 Comments


bitsmoke: electronic HD from SOO line on Vimeo.

Okay, so I was looking at the NU Music Technology Department website and found this video. Yes, it makes no sense to me either. I guess they are trying to play music based off what they see on the screen, having prepared nothing.

Cold!

Published on November 18, 2008 in Chicago, Life and Weather. 2 Comments

All of the sudden it got cold. Yesterday, Dan sent me an instant message inquiring into Chicago’s weather. That’s when it hit me…it is friggen’ winter again.

Yesterday, I literally wanted to run between buildings to get to my classes. It was one of those days. Where the cold just hits you – a smack in the face. I like winter, but I’m just not ready for it yet. The transition between fall and winter is the hardest of any seasonal change.

The saddest part of the change for me is the inability to be outside, I’ve been running a lot and biking a decent amount this summer. At first, I thought I’d be able to keep it up before it snows, but now I’m skeptical. Its just too cold to be outside to run. More accurately, I’m just to wimpy to go do it.

I feel like using this chilly weather to set a few goals for the winter:

1) Figure out what the hell I’m doing next year.
2) Be a more responsible scheduler.

Passing Time on the Purple Line

Published on November 16, 2008 in Chicago, Life and Music. 3 Comments

I had a strange moment riding on the CTA last week. I was riding on the El facing backward and listening to music. I had a classic rock playlist going through the motions uneventfully. Unfortunately, there was also an old, smelly man in front of me, but thankfully he got off quickly. Next time, the Wall Street Journal sat unread in an empty seat. Overall, I was happy to have my own sphere of influence that required no deference to other individuals. It is amazing how comforting that can be in a public space. This feeling was reinforced after the smelly guy got off and my senses were relieved.

All of the sudden, Boston’s “More than a Feeling” started playing. At this moment, I had one of those feelings where my iPod was playing the soundtrack to my life. It was a strange feeling, physically facing backwards and pondering. I’m not sure why it happens, but occasionally there are those unavoidable moments where moments throughout your life start rushing back through your head. In this instance, it was particularly strange because the train was rushing forward and propelling my body forward, buy my mine was racing backward.

Then these lyrics hit me:

When I’m tired and thinking cold
I hide in my music, forget the day

Oddly, they perfectly described my day so far: tired – yes, cold – yes, music – yes. The last line really struck my interest. By remembering past days, I was forgetting today.

I think I’m going to have more pondering blog posts in the near future. Reflection is good, self-reflection is important.

Liszt (Piano Virtuoso)

Published on November 13, 2008 in Music, Northwestern and School. 0 Comments

I’m working on an assignment for my music class, so I’d thought I’d post this video of a guy playing music by one of the best pianists ever.

Can Money Buy Happiness?

Published on November 13, 2008 in Life and Politics. 2 Comments

I’ve pondered this question several times with several different people. I’m not sure I want to spend this post answering this question, but just considering the implications of one way to answer it. If that doesn’t make sense, keep reading and I hope it will.

You all know I have been pretty concerned with politics leading up to the recent election. Issues regarding economic policies especially concerned me.

Monica’s dad once told me that he viewed money as time in a concentrated form. I think this is a reasonable way to view money because it allows you to put your hard work into a form that other people value. In a society with division of labor this is necessary because people are not self-sufficient. So people need a way to value each others work.

Money certainly facilitates happiness by furnishing people with the ability to acquire goods that make them happy. Having money also eliminates stress by providing people with a cushion to make decisions. Additionally, if you think about money as time, then you can consider money as the opportunity to do something that makes you happy. Of course, you cannot go to the store and buy 10 units of happy when you’re feeling down, but you can use money to do things that facilitate your happiness.

The concept of redistributing wealth, which has been touted by Democrats this election cycle depends on people answering ‘no’ to the above question. Why? Because it demands that people separate money from their own personal work. Therefore, it removes the power from the individual to make themselves happy. Specifically, it does this because if the government were literally to remove happiness from people and give it to other people, that would be seen as wrong. I’m not arguing that money should be equated with happiness, but instead I’m saying that disconnecting money from happiness removes any moral quality from redistributing it. In fact, it compels individuals in office to believe that their power can create happiness for people. Thus, they see it as a moral demand to redistribute wealth.

These ideas didn’t flesh out as cleanly as I had hoped, but think about it and let me know your thoughts. Feel free to critique mine!

Maine’s Compliance with Real ID Effective Saturday

Published on November 12, 2008 in News, Privacy and Real ID. 0 Comments

After Saturday, anyone seeking to obtain or renew a Maine license or identification card will have to prove their legal presence in the United States — even if they’ve lived here all their lives and are well-known by the people processing their request.

The change, which is related to the state’s reluctant compliance with the federal Real ID law

The Ellsworth American – Maine’s Compliance with Real ID Effective Saturday.

Last spring, I blogged a lot about Real ID.  It has kind of flown under the radar recently, but here is some news that makes me a little sad.  While many states have passed legislation against Real ID, it appears that Maine will start implementing the law this week.

I’ll be on the look out for more news of this nature, but let us hope it doesn’t come!

Bush Recalls Moments He Regrets

Published on November 12, 2008 in News and Politics. 2 Comments

As his presidency draws to an end, he told CNN that some remarks on Osama Bin Laden and the Iraqi insurgency would have been better left unsaid.

Mr Bush also said he regretted speaking in front of a “mission accomplished” banner only a month after troops were deployed in Iraq.

BBC NEWS | Americas | Bush recalls moments he regrets.

I haven’t lived through too many presidencies, but I think its admirable that a public servant can leave office with a realistic vision of what happened.  Granted, approval ratings are not high for our 43rd president, but I think this atmosphere is preferable to hubris.

A Fly on the Wall

Published on November 11, 2008 in Politics. 2 Comments

It would have been incredible to sit on the meeting that took place between President George W. Bush and President-elect Barack Obama.

It has been reported that they talked about the economy, the financial crisis, and the war. Obviously, there is a lot more to the American presidency than “the issues”. The presidency is a way of life. I’m curious how their dialogue played out. Considering the campaign rhetoric about the Bush administration, the proceedings had to be slightly awkward:

Obama: “Hello, I just won your job because of your low approval ratings.”
Bush: “Hi…”
*Laughter from Michelle and Laura*

Anyway, what really strikes my interest is the following question: How do you pass the baton for the most powerful position in the world?

The Game (Feat. Lil’ Wayne) – My Life

Published on November 11, 2008 in Music. 0 Comments

Some Youtube guy’s Video-Remix:

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