iTunes Playlists to Xml - version 0.3b released

  • February 27, 2009
  • James Skemp
This application has since been updated. Read about the current version of iTunes Playlists to Xml. Having just released version 0.2b of iTunes Playlists to Xml, I've done some updates, bringing it up to version 0.3b. This release fixes all of the known issues, from version 0.2b. There are no known issues with version 0.3b. Download iTunes Playlists to Xml - version 0.3b. iTunes Playlists to Xml requires .NET Framework 2.

Read More

iTunes Playlists to Xml - version 0.2b released

  • February 26, 2009
  • James Skemp
This application has since been updated. Read about the current version of iTunes Playlists to Xml. Previously I discussed an iTunes application that I was working on, in C#. That application has been fixed up a bit, and is now available for download. Download iTunes Playlists to Xml - version 0.2b. To run the application extract the contents of the zip to a directory. Then open iTunesApplication.exe. If iTunes is not running, it will start before this application does.

Read More

Parsing iTunes data with C#

  • February 22, 2009
  • James Skemp
This application has since been updated. Read about the current version of iTunes Playlists to Xml. For better or worse, when I began setting up my iPod I opted to manually organize my iPod. In large part, this was because at the time I had a machine with a pretty small hard drive, and couldn't keep all of my music on it. However, with a new HP, I was able to store all my music on that computer, as well as back it up to a USB drive.

Read More

What The Boss means to me; an open letter to Bruce Springsteen

  • February 18, 2009
  • James Skemp
Mr. Bruce Springsteen, While I can't remember the exact date, or even the year, it was shortly after my parents had divorced, and my father moved out into the country, that I first listened to Born in the U.S.A.; it was one of my father's old tapes. Now, I really wonder that I didn't wear that old tape out. I was pre-teen, and living in northern Wisconsin, and raised Catholic, so not all of the lyrics made sense (not that I really thought about them all that much outside of remembering the exact order, so I could sing the songs by heart), so in that sense, I certainly was lacking an understanding of what they really meant.

Read More

On "Shafty"

  • February 17, 2009
  • James Skemp
the terrible thing about hell is that when you're there you can't even tell as you move through this life you love so you could be there and not even know but you say so what I'm doing just fine the irony is that it's all in your mind and that's why hell is so vicious and cruel but you'll just go on an oblivious fool (Phish/Marshall. "Shafty." Lyrics. The Story of the Ghost.

Read More

What I've been up to (Feb '09 edition)

  • February 14, 2009
  • James Skemp
As my last post may have suggested ... I've been playing games. Here's a small taste of the games currently on my plate. Playstation 2 Shadow Hearts: From the New World was close to completion .. before I bought an Xbox 360. Persona 3: Fes still remains to be started, and ditto for Persona 4 ... Yes, I didn't even start Persona 4. Yes, I know how good reviews said it is.

Read More

XML-based CD library: Draft layout

  • January 9, 2009
  • James Skemp
Following close on the heels of my XML-based book library draft (and release), below is a draft layout for keeping track of my CDs. Here's what I currently track: Artist CD Name Date bought Place bought Bought price Number of songs Time (which I don't fill in very often) Misc info/notes Following the iTunes standard, each CD has a main artist. Songs, which could be listed (and which I listed back when I had this in Access, I did so), could have their own artists.

Read More

XML-based book library: Draft layout

  • January 3, 2009
  • James Skemp
01/03/2009 @ 10:39 CT: The current version of the XML Schema I came up with is available for public use at http://media.jamesrskemp.com/xsd/MyBooks.xsd Currently I have a SQL database (converted from an Access database) of all of the books that I own, as well as when I read them, how much I paid, etcetera. Since I'm moving a good deal of information into XML, I figured I'd attempt to move this into XML as well.

Read More

On my funeral

  • January 1, 2009
  • James Skemp
While in college I heard of the Greeks who, when death was near, would throw a party. All the friends of the dying would come together to drink and merry. The dying would slit their wrists and party along with the others, his life spilling out from him all the while. While I'm sure that in today's world this would never happen, my hope is that when I die those who know me will celebrate, instead of mourn.

Read More

What makes a good video game great?

  • December 19, 2008
  • James Skemp
A while ago I was reading a thread asking individuals what games they had last played multiple times. Unfortunately, I actually have a hard time coming up with more than a couple, even though I'm sure I must have played games all the way through when I had more time (id est, in college). The only two I could think of were Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.

Read More