A friend of mine bought a new MacBook Pro (the aluminum uni-body style) and he let me play around with it a bit and I got hooked.  So recently bought one of my own and have begun the transition from windows to OS X.

I don't think of myself as a typical user.  I am computer programmer and use linux at work so I am very comfortable at the command prompt and in unix like environments.  That's the first thing that I liked about Mac OS X, it's all just unix underneath ... makes a lot more sense to me than windows.  Also, the programming frameworks that Apple provides are phenominal.  They are well thought out, elegant, and a pleasure to use.  Contrast that to the mess that is windows.  I think that i am quickly becoming an apple fan boy :)

Anyway one of the problems I ran into while pulling my files over from windows was getting my music ratings out of the windows itunes into my mac itunes.  All the files transferred over fine but I was left without any ratings.  This is a problem for me as I have taken the time to rate most of my library and i rely on those ratings to create smart playlists.  After searching the web there did not appear to be any simple way to get the ratings over.  But after about an hour of hacking around with apple script (which I have never used in my life before now) and a bit of python I was able to parse the XML file that itunes produces and set the ratings on my new itunes library.  It was pretty cool.  I thought I would post what I did in case any one in the future might find it useful.  Mind you this code is posted AS IS, with no warranty either express or implied.  It worked on my itunes library with no problem but if it nukes your itunes don't come crying to me.

Ok, so how did I do it?

1. Goto your old library and find the ITunes folder.  On my windows box this was in the Music folder.  There should be a file in there called "ITunes Music Library.xml"
2. Transfer the aforementioned file to your mac computer
3. Open up the terminal on your mac (you can do this by going to finder and typing 'terminal') and navigate to the folder where you saved the xml file.
4. type emacs make_db.py
5. in the make_db.py file paste the following text:
   
   

   import xml.sax.handler
   import sys
   
   class ITunesHandler(xml.sax.handler.ContentHandler):
       def __init__(self):
           self.parsing_tag = False
           self.tag = ''
           self.value = ''
           self.tracks = []
           self.track = None
   
       def startElement(self, name, attributes):
           if name == 'key':
               self.parsing_tag = True
   
       def characters(self, data):
           if self.parsing_tag:
               self.tag = data
               self.value = ''
           else:
               # could be multiple lines, so append data.
               self.value = self.value + data
              
       def endElement(self,name):
           if name == 'key':
               self.parsing_tag = False
           else:
               if self.tag == 'Track ID':
                   # start of a new track, so a new object
                   # is needed.
                   self.track = Track()
               elif self.tag == 'Name' and self.track:
                   self.track.track = self.value
               elif self.tag == 'Rating' and self.track:
                   self.track.rating = self.value
                   self.tracks.append(self.track)
                   self.track = None
               elif self.tag == 'Size' and self.track:
                   self.track.size = self.value
               elif self.tag == 'Artist' and self.track:
                   self.track.artist = self.value
   
   class Track:
       def __init__(self):
           self.track = ''
           self.artist = ''
           self.size = ''
           self.rating = ''
   
       def __str__(self):
           return "Track = %s\nArtist = %s\nRating = %s\nSize = %s" % (self.track, self.artist, self.rating, self.size)
   
   parser = xml.sax.make_parser()
   handler = ITunesHandler()
   parser.setContentHandler(handler)
   parser.parse('FULL PATH YOUR XML FILE')
   
   my_tracks = []
   for track in handler.tracks:
       my_tracks.append(track)
   
   import pickle
   f = open('data', 'w')
   pickle.dump(my_tracks, f)
   f.close()
   

6. Run that program by typing python make_db.py at the terminal
7. Now open get_rating.py and fill it with the following commands:
   
   import pickle, sys
   
   class Track:
       def __init__(self):
           self.track = ''
           self.artist = ''
           self.size = ''
           self.rating = ''
   
       def __str__(self):
           return "Track = %s\nArtist = %s\nRating = %s\nSize = %s" % (self.track, self.artist, self.rating, self.size)
   
   
   search_name = sys.argv[1]
   search_size = sys.argv[2]
   f = open('FULL PATH TO DATA FILE', 'r')
   my_tracks = pickle.load(f)
   f.close()
   
   for track in my_tracks:
       try:
           if search_name == track.track and search_size == track.size:
               print track.rating
       except Exception, e:
           print e
   
   
8. Now open up 'Script Editor' (again, you can use the finder to get to this and enter the following applescript program:
   
   tell application "iTunes"
       set currentList to view of front window
       repeat with currTrack in (get every track of currentList)
           set trackName to name of currTrack
           set trackSize to size of currTrack
           set newRating to (do shell script "python ~/Downloads/get_rating.py \"" & trackName & "\" " & trackSize)
           set rating of currTrack to newRating
       end repeat
   end tell
   
   
9. That's it, now all your ratings should be loaded into itunes!

I apologize that the instructions require some comfortability with your mac.

It's that time again... the time when we all get to hear about what the "right" direction for our country is and how corrupt the other party is.  We also get to vote on a smattering of propositions submitted by law makers, councils, and last but not least our fellow citizens.

It's a great joy reading them because their writers have made sure to write them in the most easy to understand language and have been very careful not to be deceptive (snicker).

I spent some time reviewing the propositions and I thought I would share how I plan to vote on each of them and why.  I live in Arizona, so if you don't, what follows will probably be of little value to you.

Proposition 100

Prop 100 is a proposal to amend the Arizona constitution so that a tax may not be levied on the sale or transfer of any real property.

What the supporters are saying:
Supporters are basically arguing that we are already taxed through property taxes and a sale or transfer tax would simply serve to reduce peoples equity in their homes which would be bad.

What the opposition says:
We shouldn't bind the hands of our government by taking possibilities for raising revenue off the table.  And we need to have a more distributed tax base.

How I'm voting: Yes

I plan to vote yes on this proposition for several reasons.  For starters I like simple taxes.  Adding one more tax with all its special rules and caveats does not seem simple to me so all the more reason to prohibit it.  The second big reason I am voting yes is because there is no alternative offering comprehensive tax reform; without that I am in favor of anything that restricts the governments ability to collect taxes.

Proposition 101

Prop 101 seeks to limit the legislatures ability to enact laws that would limit/prohibit an individuals ability to choose between private health care options or penalize them for declining medical coverage.

What the supporters are saying:
Basically preserves a patients right to choose the form of health care that works best for them and seeks to prevent socialized health care.

What the opposition is saying:
Constitutional amendments that limit the freedom of the legislature is dangerous because no one can predict what challenges the future may hold.  The amendment is also not well defined which could force the judicial system to interpret what it means.

How I'mVoting: Yes

I believe that socialized health care is the wrong approach.  All one has to do is to look at countries like England who have socialized plans to see what a mess it will truly be.  In the end I think that more citizens will receive a higher level of care if the free market is ultimately allowed to regulate the system--not some state sponsored plan.  This proposition is no where near what I would like to see in terms of restrictions but it's a start and that's why I will be voting yes on Prop 101.

Proposition 102

Prop 102 seeks to ammend the Arizona constitution to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

What the supporters are saying:
Across the country legislature's and judges are redefining the traditional meaning of marriage.  This amendment prevents that and keeps it in the hands of Arizona's voters.

What the opposition is saying:
A similar amendment to this one failed already in 2006, lawmakers should respect what the voters have already said.  This bill does not protect the sanctity of marriage it just furthers the governments involvement in private citizens lives.

How I'm voting: No

I'm a religious guy and it's not that I agree or disagree with homosexuality; rather, it's that I don't want the government telling people how they should live their lives.  This amendment fails my basic test for how I believe government should be: To secure the God given rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  I don't believe the government should define what happiness is, just make it possible for individuals to pursue it in the manner that they see most fit.  This amendment does the opposite--it tries to define and impose a viewpoint on someone; so I will be voting no.

Proposition 105

For any measure that increases taxes a majority of registered voters must approve the initiative not just a majority of those who actually vote.

What supporters are saying:
Supporters claim that this would prevent special interest groups from passing taxes in low turn-out elections.

What the opposition says:
The opposition says that this would make it nearly impossible to pass any kind of new tax measures because it effectively casts a no vote by all registered voters who don't vote.

How I'm voting: Yes

I have gone back and forth on this one.  Ultimately it will make it nearly impossible to pass any new tax in Arizona; however, it will likely also make it impossible to change the tax code at all.  I've considered that it may be better to have this on the books until such a time as comprehensive tax reform can be established and then propose a constitutional amendment that would remove the effects of this proposition.  I want tax reform and I still have hope that it can happen; that's why I'm voting no on this proposition, because it will make that tax reform harder to reach.

Proposition 200

Remove the sunset clause in the current legislation that allows pay day loan services to operate in Arizona so they may exist indefinitely.  Currently, unless new legislation is enacted they will have to close their doors in 2010.  This proposal also trys to reduce some fees and introduce some industry reform.

What the supporters are saying:
This ammendment will help borrowers when they need it most by reducing fees and establishing flexible repayment plans.

What the opposition is saying:
This proposition allows a predatory industry to continue to keep the poor, poor and does little to reform their practices.

How I'm voting: No

I hestitated in my decision to vote no on this proposition.  I don't think that the government should try and protect consumers from themselves.  If someone believes that the best option for them is to take out an exorbitantly priced pay day loan then I think that is their decision and they should have the freedom to make it.  However, I also don't believe in regulation that creates special interests.  This proposition falls outside the bounds of what I think the government should do which ultimately caused me to vote no on this proposition even though the likely outcome will be that the payday loan industry will go out of business because of government regulation.

Proposition 201

Require home builders to offer a 10 year warranty on purchases of new homes and restrict the ability of builders to seek reimbursement of legal fees if they are sued.

What the supporters are saying:
Would protect home owners from defects in the new homes they have purchased and give them a say in selecting what contracters should be used in making the repairs.  Allows homeowners to freely seek remediation in the courts without fear of being counter-sued for legal fees.

What the opposition is saying:
This proposition will create many frivolous lawsuits and will ultimately raise the cost of home owner ship for everyone.

How I'm voting: No

I plan to vote no on this proposition because I believe that builders should have the right to seek reimbursement for legal fees if it was a frivolous law suite.  I also believe that the current law adequeltly protects homeowners and all this bill represents is the governement mucking with the free market to give an advantage to one party; which I fundamentally disagree with.  No hesitation on this one!

Proposition 202

This proposition proposes new rules with respect to hiring of illegal immigrants.  Specifically by changing the definition of "Knowing" in current law to that of an actual officer demonstratably knowing that an employee is an illegal alien.

What supporters are saying:
This proposition will reduce hiring of illegal aliens in our state and punish those who hire them.

What opponents are saying:
This proposition will make it harder to prosecute those who hire illegal aliens and will prevent the state from acting until federal action is taken.

How I'm voting: No

This proposition is very deceptively worded.  It claims to be against the hiring of illegal aliens but in practice the things it wishes to do will make it easier to higher them; thus, I am voting no.

Proposition 300

Raise the legislatures salary from the current $24,000 per year to $30,000.

What supporters are saying:
The legislature deserves a raise and you shouldn't deny them this just because you are unhappy with the job they are doing.  We have to pay them well to attract top talent to the job.

What oponents are saying:
Legislatures are already adequetly compensated as they are only expected to work in the legislature for less than 100 days of the year.

How I'm voting: No

Given that the legislature is only required to meet for about a 3rd of the year I believe that the level of compoensation that is currently offered is adequate. Honestly even if we were to raise their salary by $6,000.00 do you really believe we would get more competent legislatures?  I don't, I think the hike would need to be much more substantial than that.

I've been on a finance related theme lately.  Yesterday I added this kind of cool debt clock on the right side of the page but quickly got depressed at the size of our over commitment.  So what is it exactly that we get for our exorbitant taxes and huge national debt?

Well, first there's the big ticket items like: Social Security ... who would want our retirees to go hungry, National Defense ... gotta pay for those $700.00 toilet seats, Interest on debt ... people don't loan money for free, welfare ... we also don't want anyone too lazy to work going hungry ;), etc.  But there's also a number of other pricey items that you may not have expected.  Such as $10 billion for the IRS.. they're taxing us so they can tax us!  There's also almost $100 million for unused plane tickets.  If that's not enough we also have large amounts of dollars that are being spent that weren't budgeted.  For instance, in 2003, nearly $25 billion was spent but not accounted for.  Someone or several someones are sitting pretty with all of those tax dollars.

Category	Amount Budgeted
Social Security	$608,000,000,000.00
Medicare	$386,000,000,000.00
Medicaid and SCHIP	$209,000,000,000.00
Unemployment / Welfare / Other	$324,000,000,000.00
Interest on National Debt	$261,000,000,000.00
National Defense	$481,400,000,000.00
War on Terror	$145,200,000,000.00
Health and Human Services	$69,300,000,000.00
Department of Education	$56,000,000,000.00
Department of Veteran Affairs	$39,400,000,000.00
Department of Housing and Urban Development	$35,200,000,000.00
State & International Programs	$35,000,000,000.00
Department of Homeland Security	$34,300,000,000.00
Department of Energy	$24,300,000,000.00
Department of Justice	$20,200,000,000.00
Department of Agriculture	$20,200,000,000.00
NASA	$17,300,000,000.00
Department of Transportation	$12,100,000,000.00
Department of Treasury	$12,100,000,000.00
Department of the Interior	$10,600,000,000.00
Department of Labor	$10,600,000,000.00
Other	$90,800,000,000.00

Prices are definitely higher than they were a year ago; but I got curious as to just how much higher they had gotten.  Then I found this cool little chart on at the NY Times.  It displays the makeup of an average consumers budget and how the prices have changed over the last year in each of the categories.



There is an interactive version available at: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/05/03/business/20080403_SPENDING_GRAPHIC.html

I know that I haven't really kept up with this blog over the last year.  There have been times that I have thought about writing but just haven't.  I thought it was about time that I get back to it and since I wasn't happy with the old design; I figured we could start things off with a new look and feel.

Watch the mother:

Hmmm.. I would not want to be him:

I have heard this poem a number of times in sermons but it was not till today that I could remember who wrote it. It's called "The Hound of Heaven" by Francis Thompson. Thompson was an English poet that has often been compared to Milton, but he lived much of his life on the streets because he had a devastating cocaine addiction. Every time I hear this poem it is so beautiful.

I fled Him, down the nights and down the days; I fled Him, down the arches of the years; I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways Of my own mind; and in the mist of tears I hid from Him, and under running laughter. Up vistaed hopes I sped; And shot, precipitated, Adown Titanic glooms of chasmed fears, From those strong Feet that followed, followed after. But with unhurrying chase, And unperturbèd pace, Deliberate speed, majestic instancy, They beat - and a Voice beat More instant than the Feet - "All things betray thee, who betrayest Me."

I pleaded, outlaw-wise,
By many a hearted casement, curtained red,
Trellised with intertwining charities;
(For, though I knew His love Who followèd,
Yet I was sore adread
Lest, having Him, I must have naught beside.)
But, if one little casement parted wide,
The gust of His approach would clash it to.
Fear wist not to evade as Love wist to pursue.
Across the margent of the world I fled,
And troubled the gold gateways of the stars,
Smiting for shelter on their clangèd bars;
Fretted to dulcet jars
And silvern chatter the pale ports o' the moon.
I said to Dawn: Be sudden - to Eve: Be soon;
With thy young skiey blossoms heap me over
From this tremendous Lover -
Float thy vague veil about me, lest He see!
I tempted all His servitors, but to find
My own betrayal in their constancy,
In faith to Him their fickleness to me,
Their traitorous trueness, and their loyal deceit.
To all swift things for swiftness did I sue;
Clung to the whistling mane of every wind.
But whether they swept, smoothly fleet,
The long savannahs of the blue;
Or whether, Thunder-driven,
They clanged His chariot 'thwart a heaven,
Plashy with flying lightnings round the spurn o' their feet: -
Fear wist not to evade as Love wist to pursue.
Still with unhurrying chase,
And unperturbèd pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,
Came on the following Feet,
And a Voice above their beat -
"Naught shelters thee, who wilt not shelter Me."

Now of that long pursuit
Comes on at had the bruit;
That Voice is round me like a bursting sea:
"And is thy earth so marred,
Shattered in shard on shard?
Lo, all things fly thee, for thou fliest Me!
Strange, piteous, futile thing!
Wherfore should any set thee love apart?
Seeing none but I make much of naught" (He said),
"And human love needs human meriting:
How hast thou merited -
Of all man's clotted clay, the dingiest clot?
Alack, thou knowest not
How little worthy of any love thou art!
Whom wilt thou find to love ignoble thee,
Save Me, save only Me?
All which I took from thee I did but take,
Not for thy harms,
But just that thou might'st seek it in My arms.
All which thy child's mistake
Fancies as lost, I have stored for thee at home:
Rise, clasp My hand, and come."

Halts by me that footfall:
Is my gloom, after all,
Shade of His hand, outstretched caressingly?
"Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest,
I am He Whom thou seekest!
Thou dravest love from thee, who dravest Me."