iTunes Playlists to Xml - version 1.4.1 released

• October 30, 2009
• James Skemp

This application has since been updated. Read about the current version of iTunes Playlists to Xml. Version 1.4.1 of iTunes Playlists to Xml is now available for download. Download iTunes Playlists to Xml 1.4.1. Installing and more information If you're new to iTunes Playlists to Xml, I've created a 'product page' for iTunes Playlists to Xml with all the information needed to get started. Upgrading To upgrade from version 1.

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Two simple ColdFusion calendar outputs

• October 26, 2009
• James Skemp

Here's two rough drafts of calendars created via ColdFusion (7, but I believe 6.1 would have the same functionality). Tables-based <cfparam name="URL.CalendarMonth" default="#Month(now())#" type="integer" /> <cfparam name="URL.CalendarYear" default="#Year(now())#" type="integer" /> <cfif URL.CalendarMonth LT 1 OR URL.CalendarMonth GT 12> <cfset URL.CalendarMonth = Month(now()) /> </cfif> <cfset VARIABLES.Calendar.StartDate = CreateDate(URL.CalendarYear, URL.CalendarMonth, 1) /> <table style=“width:375px;” summary=“Calendar of events for <cfoutput>#DateFormat(VARIABLES.Calendar.StartDate, ‘mmmm yyyy’)#</cfoutput>."> <thead> <tr> <th colspan=“7”><cfoutput>#DateFormat(VARIABLES.Calendar.StartDate, “mmmm yyyy”)#</cfoutput></th> </tr> <tr> <th>S</th> <th>M</th> <th>T</th> <th>W</th> <th>Th</th> <th>F</th> <th>S</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <cfloop from=“1” to="#DaysInMonth(VARIABLES.

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Using SQLite as a membership, profile, and role provider in ASP.NET MVC

• October 25, 2009
• James Skemp

I'd really like to implement membership providers in my Web applications, but just don't have the user-base that requires SQL Server (Express), nor the memory on my production server. Having looked at SQLite before, I figured it would be exactly what I'd need, without going to the alternative of XML. After some research I found Roger Martin's SQLite Membership, Role, and Profile Providers, and finally decided yesterday to implement these on a dummy MVC site.

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Steps to setting up a Windows Server 2003 Web Server on VirtualBox

• October 24, 2009
• James Skemp

The following goes through the steps needed to setup Windows Server 2003, with Web server capabilities (IIS 6 in this instance), on a Sun VirtualBox virtual machine. Why Windows Server 2003 when Server 2008 is out and available? Because a large number of hosts (mine included) haven't made the switch yet. Requirements Sun VirtualBox. We want this in particular for the great networking functionality, but other apps, like Microsoft Virtual PC, will work fine as well.

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My entertainment setup, October 2009

• October 24, 2009
• James Skemp

Overall, I think I'm pretty happy with my entertainment center setup, which is pictured and detailed below. The photo The gear (For items no longer available, I've linked to a similar product.) Essentials Sony Bravia KDL-32M3000 Yamaha HTR-6130 APC Back-UPS XS 1300 A serious UPS solution is required, in my opinion. Since I don't have a PC connected into this (and don't want to) I went with a model featuring a LCD.

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Microsoft Log Parser custom brush for Syntax Highlighter

• October 18, 2009
• James Skemp

It still needs a touch of work, but a basic custom brush for Syntax Highlighter is available for download. Download the Microsoft Log Parser custom brush for Syntax Highlighter 2.0.320. Example included below and at LogParserPlus.com: logparser -rtp:-1 "SELECT cs-uri-stem, cs-uri-query, date, sc-status, cs(Referer) INTO 200sReport.txt FROM ex0902*.log WHERE (sc-status >= 200 AND sc-status < 300) ORDER BY sc-status, date, cs-uri-stem, cs-uri-query" Comments and suggestions are welcomed.

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Review: Professional ASP.NET MVC 1.0

• October 18, 2009
• James Skemp

The following is a review of Professional ASP.NET MVC 1.0, written by Rob Conery, Scott Hanselman, Phil Haack, and Scott Guthrie. I received a free copy of this book for review purposes from Amazon Vine, but was planning on purchasing the book nonetheless (I just had the good fortune to get a copy before they were all taken). A great introduction to ASP.NET MVC Professional ASP.NET MVC 1.0 was my first real look at ASP.

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A Brief Thought on Time Travel

• October 17, 2009
• James Skemp

To those who cannot travel outside the normal flow of time, it matters not whether time travel is possible, for they would be unable to determine if the past had changed (assuming it even possible). This thought came to me a moment ago, as I was about to watch the eighth episode of Cosmos.

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Review: Muramasa: The Demon Blade

• October 17, 2009
• James Skemp

The following is a review of [Muramasa: The Demon Blade][review], for the Nintendo Wii. Let's get it out of the way; Muramasa: The Demon Blade is the game that finally made my purchase of the Wii worthwhile. Muramasa is in some ways similar to Super Metroid in that you progress around the game by moving from screen to screen, with enemy battles occuring randomly, as you move towards the act's boss.

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Linda Hamilton - 80s or 90s?

• October 14, 2009
• James Skemp

Previously posted on Facebook: 80's Linda Hamilton; sure, she did T2 in the 90s, but I bet if you think Linda Hamilton, you think 80s. Am I wrong? Rob Lumley brings up Terminator 2 as being his reason he'd go with 90s Hamilton. I'd agree with you on the Terminator franchise, but, obviously, not with Hamilton being better in the 90s solely because of T2. Look at IMDb - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000157/

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