application.rb

  def authenticate_or_request_admin
    logged_in_as_admin || authenticate_or_request_with_http_basic { |username, password| login_as_admin(username, password) }
  end  

  def logged_in_as_admin
    session_enabled? && session[:is_admin?]
  end
  
  def login_as_admin(username, password)
    authentic = username == ApplicationSettings::Administration::Authentication::USERNAME && 
                password == ApplicationSettings::Administration::Authentication::PASSWORD
    session[:is_admin?] = true if authentic && session_enabled?
    authentic
  end