Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/markets/stocks/movers_index_dow.html

Who is in MSSQL

USE Master

DECLARE @dbid INT
SELECT @dbid = dbid FROM sys.sysdatabases WHERE name = ”

IF EXISTS (SELECT spid FROM sys.sysprocesses WHERE dbid = @dbid)
BEGIN
RAISERROR (’The restore cannot be done’, 16, 1)
SELECT ‘These processes are blocking the restore from occurring’ AS Note, spid, last_batch, status, hostname, loginame FROM sys.sysprocesses WHERE dbid = @dbid
END

Source: http://blog.sqlauthority.com/2007/12/07/sql-server-fix-error-3702-cannot-drop-database-because-it-is-currently-in-use/

Quick way to verify SMTP server

Source From: http://www.garnetchaney.com/how_to_telnet_to_a_mail_server.shtml

SMTP - To Send Mail

To send mail:

1. Bring up telnet
2. Type "open (your mail server here) 25"
3. This will connect to your mail server on port 25 (the smtp port) SMTP stands for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol.
4. Type "HELO (site you want the mail server to record you connecting from...this can be anything you want)" Some mail servers do not require this line.
5. If you want the mail server/receiver of the email to know who this email is from type "MAIL FROM: yourname@whereever.com (replace this with whatever you want)" **Note: Some mail servers require this line...if you get an error that blank sender is not allowed than use this command.
6. To tell the mail server where you want your mail to go to type "RCPT TO: (where you want the mail to go)". **Warning: If you incorrectly enter the destination of the mail it will be sent to the postmaster of the receiving server (usually the mail server will give you an error informing you that the user does not exist and that this message will be sent to the postmaster).
7. Then type "DATA"
8. The mail server will give you specific instructions on how to terminate the message (usually a "." on a line by itself) you must use this or else you will not be able to send the message!
9. Type your message
10. Then terminate the message with the appropriate character
11. At this point you generally type "QUIT" to disconnect as your message is sent.

There is always a good time to buy stock

There is always a best time to buy stock. This is nothing more true than now. Dow Jones closed overnight lossing 500 over points and for the past week already lost about 1400 pts. It's below 10000.

I am to share my portfolio of stocks that I would love to invest provided with spare cash :) wish...

I am sure I can manage a return of at least 10% for the next 2 years.

Source: Marketwatch.com for the portfolio management.
Number of stocks are solely my preference. Everyone should have their own. Just like individual preference for colours/cars/food etc....

MCP certified

Today marked an important day in my IT career as I manage to add an additional certification to my resume that has been rusty since 1999 for a Microsoft last certified cert.

Well done. Keep it up!

CD Rom playing not smoothly

My PC DVD-ROM was not operating efficiently lately. I used to have this month for many years. And I have been bearing with it until recently I manage to find a solution and the problem of it.

I used to play Command and Conquer and the video clips seems to flick and not running smoothly. The DVD led light was blinking quickly, working very hard.

Not until recently, I became fishy and wanna nail down the problem.

Presto! Set the IDE channel in your PC, Start--> Program--> Control Panel--> System--> Device Manager

Looking out for Secondary IDE Channel (Assuming your CDROM is there!)

Set the default DMA mode to PIO.

In my case, my cdrom is only PIO.

It does the trick.

Lesson learnt on Budget Airlines

My first experience with budget airline was back in 2004 with Ryanair flying from Belgium to London for my honeymoon. It was so exciting and looking forward as I book the ticket online back home in Singapore and fly all the way to London, complete my Europe tour and then back to London via Ryanair. The experience was good though.

Thereafter, I have tried several trips from Senai, JB to Kuala Lumpur by Airasia. Also, on a company trip to Ho Chi Ming with Jetstar Asia. Most recently I got on a personal trip with one of the local budget airlines.

The experience wasn't very pleasant at all.

I booked my ticket for family of four last month to fly to Bangkok scheduled this December. My booking experience through their website is not pleasant. I have made several 'expensive silly' mistakes such as clicking "yes" for the extra baggage which inccur additional $10 fees for each way, which means $20(both way) * 4 = 80 on the additional luggage. All because that I did not read the selection option carefully. My fault I admitted.

Then, on proceeding with the payment in the summary screen, I wanted to know how much it cost for the insurance as it was not stated. I have to perform select & deselect for insurance option to see if there is any fee difference and ended I had paid more but without insurance coverage. Upon calling the customer officer, they insisted that I did not choose the insurance option. Then how come I am still being charge more as the price remain same? The website only showed the lump sum of price without the break down as in how much it cost person per sector in the final screen or the reservation e-ticket.

Also, this airline has changed my departure schedule and notifying their customers via email. They have arrange for an hour delay of flight. What happen to people who don't check their email or if the email was lost or went into spam etc...? Is this a professional service to notify customers on change of flying schedule? How about any compensation or refund for those customers who cannot make it for the changed schedule?

Last but not least, booking a budget airline early does not guarantee a cheaper fare but waiting for their anniversary or other promotion will guarantee you a very much more better deal.

Lesson learnt.

Anyway, found some article talking about relevant budget airlines to share.
http://talkback.stomp.com.sg/forums/showthread.php?t=41551