I finally bit the bullet and moved off Wordpress today after learning that my blog had been hacked at some point in the recent past. I decided to switch over to Octopress, which is based on Jekyll, in part because there’s an easy-to-use Wordpress importer. Additionally, I was able to install a clean version of Wordpress, and dump out a collection of all of my posts into WxR format, so no content lost, no permalinks changed.
Yay for Ruby, boo for Wordpress security.
A couple weeks back, I noticed that when you ‘like’ an article in Instapaper, it will publish a link to it on your Twitter account with a predictable suffix, assuming of course that you have enabled Twitter integration. The most interesting part of this for me was the predictable suffix thing. Namely, it’s really easy to run a search on Twitter to specifically pull out all of the articles that people have liked “(via Instapaper)”. With that bit of knowledge, I was able to build a working prototype of what would become my new site, (via Instapaper).
In short, (via Instapaper) helps you find the most popular articles (or liked) from Instapaper, as seen on Twitter. The site has, given the amount of time I’ve spent on it, become a reasonable success. I’ve gotten mentioned by Marco Arment’s official Twitter account, received props from the creators of Longform and Give Me Something to Read, and am followed by a number of highly regarded journalists. All in all, not too shabby for a weekend project.
Regarding http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2011/11/15/dorli-rainey-84-pepper-sprayed-by-spd-at-occupy-seattle-protest
This needs to stop. Now. I voted for you because I thought Nickels was a useless idiot. I don’t think the same of you, but—assuming you do not—I will vote-for, donate-to and GOTV-for anyone who repudiates this action.
thanks, Aaron
Begin forwarded message:
From: Aaron Brethorst Subject: What is there to say? Date: August 25, 2011 1:54:21 AM PDT To: steve@apple.com
For some reason, i feel like i am emailing santa claus. I’m saddened to hear that you’ve resigned.
You’ve been an inspiration to me for well over half my life. I wish you all the best, and if I prayed, you’d be in them.
You’re an inspiration to millions, and an incredible human being.
I hope to see a fourth act. Godspeed.
Aaron
Sent from my iPhone
From: Aaron BrethorstDate: April 28, 2011 9:34:49 PM PDTTo: christine.gregoire@gov.wa.govCc: chopp.frank@leg.wa.gov, jamie.pedersen@leg.wa.govSubject: Please Sign SB 5073 Into Law–Don’t Veto Any of ItDear Governor Gregoire, I’ve been a Seattle resident for the past eight years. I don’t smoke pot, I work in the software industry, and I want you to sign this bill. I have friends who are cancer survivors who have needed and benefitted from medical uses of marijuana, and the act of vetoing this bill would do nothing but harm these wonderful people. You’re stepping down in less than two years and will never have to worry about negative campaign ads vilifying you over this issue. So please, do the right thing and sign SB 5073 into law. Thank you, Aaron Brethorst 425-241-4008 1450 E Republican St #203 Seattle WA 98112
The address was most notable for what it left out: any attempt to explain how a nation could possibly remain viable, let alone democratic, if it were founded on the principle that any constituent part might withdraw as soon as it found itself in the minority on an important political issue.
I just launched a new website that tracks the best custom Cocoa controls for iOS and OS X. It doesn’t have a ton on it yet, but I’m stocking it up with my favorite items. Also, feel free to submit your own!
What central story is at the core of you, and how do you share it with the world? (Bonus: Consider your reflections from this month. Look through them to discover a thread you may not have noticed until today.)
Huh? This question makes absolutely no sense. Fine, fine, fine: I’ll take a stab at it. Entrepreneurship, an acerbic nature, and a love of fine food.