Private Sub BlobFilesToDatabase(ByVal TheFolderPath As String)
        'this is a recursive function, that, after processing all the files in the current directory, digs deeper into each subfolder in the current directory.
        If Directory.Exists(TheFolderPath) Then
            Dim mySqlConnectionFormat As String = "data source={0};initial catalog={1};user id={2};password={3};Trusted_Connection=False;Connect Timeout=600;Workstation ID=GhostInTheMachine;Application Name=HaxxorPadPlusPlus;"
            Dim MyConn As New SqlConnection
            MyConn.ConnectionString = String.Format(mySqlConnectionFormat, "DEV223", "SandBox", "Noobie", "NotARealPassword")
            MyConn.Open()

            'assuming a table like CREATE TABLE MyImages(ImageID int IDENTITY(1,1) NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY,ImageFileName varchar(50),BlobData varbinary(max) )

            Dim sql As String = "INSERT INTO MyImages VALUES(@ImageFileName,@BlobData)"
            Dim MySqlCommand As New SqlCommand(sql, MyConn)
            MySqlCommand.Parameters.Add("@ImageFileName", SqlDbType.VarChar)
            MySqlCommand.Parameters.Add("@BlobData", SqlDbType.Image)
        
            For Each TheFilename As String In Directory.GetFiles(TheFolderPath)
                If TheFilename.EndsWith("jpg", StringComparison.CurrentCulture) OrElse TheFilename.EndsWith("ico", StringComparison.CurrentCulture) Then
                    If File.Exists(TheFilename) Then
                        Dim oFile As System.IO.FileInfo
                        oFile = New System.IO.FileInfo(TheFilename)

                        Dim oFileStream As System.IO.FileStream = oFile.OpenRead
                        Dim lBytes As Long = oFileStream.Length
                        Dim DiskBlob(lBytes - 1) As Byte
                        ' Read the file into a byte array
                        oFileStream.Read(DiskBlob, 0, lBytes)
                        MySqlCommand.Parameters(0).Value = oFile.Name
                        MySqlCommand.Parameters(1).Value = DiskBlob
                        MySqlCommand.ExecuteNonQuery()
                    End If

                End If
            Next

            'now process any sub folders.
            For Each TheSubDirectory As String In Directory.GetDirectories(TheFolderPath)
                BlobFilesToDatabase(TheSubDirectory)
            Next
        End If

        
    End Sub