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(); ?> Tag Archive for ‘History’ at spencerb.net

Tag Archive for 'History'

Winter Break

Published on December 14, 2008 in Chicago, Economics, Northwestern, School, Sports and Travel. 1 Comment

It has arrived finally. I finished up my econ final and turned in a final paper for my music class last Tuesday. On Friday, I took my history exam. Today, I found out the results of my economics exam and I am extremely pleased. The only reason I’m sharing this is because 1) the class was tough and 2) it ensures I can write a thesis next quarter.

I have a few travel plans for this winter break. I’m very excited about embarking on all three of them.

First, Monica and I will be heading up to her parents’ cabin in northern Wisconsin. It will be nice to be away from things and relax a little bit. I can’t say that a whole lot of relaxing has gone on this quarter. Plus, I am excited to be going “up north”. That phrase is tossed about frequently in Minnesota with little meaning. Going up north covers a huge array of geographic areas. I am using the phrase just as wantonly, but the universal recognition of its meaning makes it a useful phrase.

Second, we’ll be heading to southern Wisconsin for Christmas. There we’ll be enjoying present opening and a lot of food with Monica’s family.

Third, we’ll be meeting my family in Vancouver for a ski trip to Whistler. I haven’t had too many opportunities to ski recently – thanks to living in Chicago and the lack of snow. Hopefully, I can get some practice when we’re up north, but otherwise I’m soooo excited for what will surely be an amazing trip. Honestly, I love skiing, it is an amazing sport. There is no better feeling than stepping out onto a mountain in your awkward boots and getting ready to carve down it.

Happy Holidays everyone and if you’re on break…enjoy it!

Responsibility in Politics

Published on October 26, 2008 in Economics, Politics and School. 0 Comments

Something has been bothering me lately. It has been plaguing my conscience and running rampant throughout this blog.

Things go wrong. It happens. We depend on the leaders we elect to use a philosophy consistent with our own to avoid mistakes. They happen none the less. As citizens in America’s polity, the officials we elect are accountable to us in a unique way.

Currently, it is clear that political actions have had ramifications in the economy. It is also clear that foreign policy decisions by our political leaders have resulted in a war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Where does the buck stop?

Harry S. Truman promised that the buck stopped at the President’s desk. I don’t think we have the same level of responsibility among our political leaders today. I think that President Bush has taken responsibility for the wars:

“The situation in Iraq is unacceptable to the American people, and it is unacceptable to me,” Bush said. “Where mistakes have been made, the responsibility rests with me.”

Bush’s approval ratings show that the American people are not completely satisfied with this. In other words, it is too little too late.

Recently, Alan Greenspan took some responsibility for his part in our current economic woes:

The 82-year-old Mr. Greenspan said he made “a mistake” in his hands-off regulatory philosophy, which many now blame in part for sparking the global economic troubles. He quoted something he had written in March: “Those of us who have looked to the self-interest of lending institutions to protect shareholder’s equity (myself especially) are in a state of shocked disbelief.”

My question is where will the buck stop in 2008? Will it keep going back to Bush? If the Democrats are elected, I think Bush will be blamed for the next 8 years. I think McCain got it right when he said Obama isn’t running against Bush. I think the entire DNC needs to realize this:

“Senator Obama, I am not President Bush,” said McCain in the third and last presidential debate Wednesday night after Obama pointed out that he had voted for Bush’s budget proposals. “If you wanted to run against President Bush, you should have run four years ago.”

The problem is that Americans are not happy with the buck stopping with a Republican in the White House. The party needs to convince people that the buck will stop with John McCain and he’ll take responsibility for the future of America.

If Bush keeps getting blamed, when will we move on? Bush did not have a great presidency, only history will show how it is really viewed, but we need to move on. Every candidate is campaigning on change, but if we don’t change our mindset to the future and to ownership of our actions, there will not be real change.

I’d like to see Congress take responsibility for subsidizing mortgages, Democrats take responsibility for Congress post-2006, and the next president take responsibility for the future. The past affects our future, but we cannot keep blaming the past or we will never move on.

The First Midterm Comes…and Goes

Published on October 20, 2008 in Life, Northwestern and School. 0 Comments

Back into the swing of the quarter system again. The quarter is just about halfway through already. I can’t believe we started in late September and we’re almost halfway done.

My first midterm was for a history class that I’m taking. American History. I’m not sure why I took a history class. I thought that my general interest in history would make this a great class. To be fair, it has been interesting so far, but not as captivating as I’d expect. That’s the hard thing sometimes in college, especially at Northwestern. Just because you are interested in something doesn’t mean the class will capture that same interest. On the other hand, the classes with the ‘celebrity professors’ are fantastic no matter what the subject. So, I guess, it is a little hit or miss.

The midterm was easy. Let’s face it, we’ve all taken about a 100 American history classes since middle school.

Upcoming Post: Political Experience Then & Now

Published on October 31, 2007 in Blog. 0 Comments

I want to do a little expose on what political and life experience the main candidates for President have in both parties. Then I want to compare that to the experience the former Presidents of the past 50 years had before entering office. Hopefully, the latter will reveal something when compared to there relative successes. Then, we could attempt to figure out which of the former will make the best President in 2008.

Interesting Article about the War on Terror

Published on October 27, 2007 in Politics. 0 Comments

I have not checked recently, but I do not think the readership to this blog is extremely high, but I am not trying to make money from advertising or change the world. So I will give a shoutout to my friend Bill’s Blog and an interesting article he linked to written by one of his profs.

As my political views mature and the political landscape of the United States changes life is becoming increasingly frustrating. I feel disconnected from the way our country works because to me it just does not make sense. I would highly recommend trying out this podcast by Dan Carlin. If you have never dabbled into podcasts before I think this would be a great way to become hooked. It is a reasonable and interesting commentary on current events without the political skew. It is also long enough where an issue can be developed, but you do not get bored. As of right now it does not have any commercials either!

Anyway back to my frustrations and this article. This deserves a more well developed post so I will try to make it short and let the article stand on its own. I think the really frustrating thing is the perverse incentives that are created by the destruction of state and individual rights. The scary thing about this is the lack of responsibility it creates in all levels of government.

It is fair asking how we kicked so much ass in World War II, but how we are failing so badly now. The article answers this question on a variety of issues fundamental to waging a war. What really concerns me and I think answers this question on a more broad basis is that Congress has not declared war. I think if we want to wage and win a war it should be a declared and focused effort. The War Powers Act should probably be limited and scaled back. I am all about the people. The Executive takes power away from the Congress, which represents the people. Remember when you vote for President that you are not only voting for their policies that will not be fulfilled, but you are voting for numerous appointments to Federal Administrations. People who make policy without a vote of Congress or approval of the President. Of course, Congress takes power away from the people, it was meant to make government more efficient so everyone does not have to show up to Town Hall. The problem is when they take so much power that the states lose their rights (10th Amendment, anyone?).

There is just so much disconnect between the citizens and our wonderful state.

Get Adobe Flash playerPlugin by wpburn.com wordpress themes
Close
E-mail It