Vista SP1: Small things come in big packages

Microsoft's planned Vista Service Pack 1 may not be adding many features, but it sure does take up a lot of space.

Based on current test versions, the operating system update will be a 1GB file when uncompressed. By way of comparison, Windows XP--the whole thing--shipped on a CD, which only holds about three quarters of a gigabyte. On the plus side, systems that already have the latest Vista patches can be brought up to the Service Pack 1 level with only a 50MB compressed file through Microsoft's online Windows Update utility.

http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9768026-7.html

How to Write a Cover Letter and Resume

Cover Letter
http://www.mahalo.com/How_to_Write_a_Cover_Letter

Resume
http://www.mahalo.com/How_to_write_a_resume

Storm Worm Targets YouTube Users

http://www.websense.com/securitylabs/alerts/alert.php?AlertID=799

Yahoo rolls out enhanced e-mail service

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070827/tc_afp/technologyitinternetcompanyyahoo

27 - 31 Aug 07 Stock Market Mood

This weekend, investors here are likely to be watching for signs of any slowdown in the US economy, based on the latest new home sales data published overnight yesterday, which could set the mood for the start of trading next week. Furthermore, MAS has just pointed out DBS has got additional $1.1 billion direct exposure to collateralised debt obligations (CDOs) than it previously disclosed.

In Memory of SSG Liew - 23/08/2007

SSG Liew, 4 SIR 10th Mono Scout PS, will always be remembered. He is the best sergeant.

May God bless you.

Microsoft Launches Snazzy New Search Engine Tafiti

It's pretty cool. Silverlight - a serious competitor to Flash, is used. For that, viewers need to install Silverlight plugin.
http://lifehacker.com/software/launch/microsoft-launches-snazzy-new-search-engine-tafiti-292396.php

Install Silverlight plugin
http://silverlight.net/

Identity attack spreads; 1.6M records stolen from Monster.com

This is pretty serious!
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9031418&intsrc=news_ts_head

Got Myself $10 Popular Voucher

I just got myself one $10 Popular voucher :)
It's time to go shopping!

Independent Financial Advisers VS Tied-Agents

Oh ya. I would like to add something - I am not a IFA.

http://www.maa.com.sg/career_train&comm.htm
http://www.pensionsorter.co.uk/independentadvisors.cfm (UK Article: Some may not apply)
http://hongjun.blogspot.com/2007/07/perception-of-ifa-vs-fa.html (My previous article)

National Day Rally 2007

1. Introduction
2. Income Gap – leaving no one behind
3. Upgrading Education – levelling up society
4. Ageing Population – living active lives
5. Working Longer – more savings for old age
6. Improving CPF – building a nest egg
7. Upgrading & Renewal – best home for all
8. Forging Ahead – go for it together

Investopedia - 20 Investments

Vista Cursors on Windows XP

It won't have a big change on your XP look and feel but nonetheless, they look rather good.

Plans to Get Another Blog

I am having plans in getting a new dedicated blog for Technology news and this current one to be more personal.

I am in the process in designing and setting up environment ready for the new blog.

A Petition for the Development of Unmanaged Visual Basic

What Is It ?

By providing a new version of a COM-based Visual Basic within the Visual Studio IDE, Microsoft will help maintain the value of its clients' existing code, demonstrate its ongoing commitment to the core Visual Basic language, and greatly simplify the adoption of VB.NET by those that wish to do so.This mirrors the approach taken for the C language and enhances the viability of VB.NET while preserving customers' assets. By continuing development of both managed and unmanaged Visual Basic, Microsoft will demonstrate their commitment to their entire developer community.

http://classicvb.org/petition/

I myself has just signed my petition (It will take a while to load).
You can find my name "Loh Hon Chun" near the bottom.

http://www.classicvb.org/petition/signatories.asp?lang=en&page=-1

.NET Checklist

This list of over 700 guidelines is excerpted from the textbook Practical Guidelines and Best Practices for Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Visual C# Developers, by Francesco Balena and Giuseppe Dimauro (2005, Microsoft Press) and is meant to be used together with the book. All the examples on applying these guidelines are provided in the book, together with a thorough description of each rule and its benefits as well as cases where the rule isn't recommended and shouldn't be used.

Download
http://www.box.net/shared/3ki66r7yjl

OpenProj - Replacement for Microsoft Project

Official Website
http://openproj.org/?q=node/21

The Fall of Asia Pacific Bulls

The market is doing really bad this month. The entire Asia Pacific stock market has fallen and China is not spared this time round.


The bulls are becoming bears.

Hotmail Email Storage Up to 5 GB

Microsoft's Live Hotmail now offers 5 GB of email storage space. Yahoo's mail is currently offering unlimited storage space and Google's GMail is currently offering 2.89 GB of storage space.

Apple Beats Microsoft at its Own Open XML Game

Mac support for Microsoft's Open XML document standard has arrived, but it's Apple's iWork '08, not Microsoft's Office, delivering the goods.

Added meebOme! Widget!

I have added meebOme! Widget!
You can find the widget at the right panel of this blog.

[Removed meebOme! Widget in this post]

Click My Google Ads

Firstly, I would like to thank whoever who have clicked on my Google Adsense Ads.

Please continue to click on my Google Ads.

Currently Ranked 21st for August 2007

I am currently ranked 21st for the month of August 2007. I am pushing for a 2 million mark by August and at the same time climb back up to top 100 ranking overall. I have lost this top 100 position since I entered NUS. My highest for overall ranking was 51st and this feat is almost impossible to match.

Folders for GMail

GMail uses concept of Labels and don't have the hierachical advantages of a folder structure. To make up for this shortfall, GMail uses its powerful search to get back your emails. However, you could have dreamt to have folders back for a very long time.

1,911,776 Points Now

Currently, I am at a total of 1,911,776 EE expert points. I am gunning for 2,000,000 (2 Million) points by end of this month (August). It's going to be very very tough but I know pretty well the likelihood of the goal stands only at 50/50 chance.

Keep my fingers crossed.

10 Minute Email Address

Most importantly, it's free and it works!

Why would you use this? Maybe you want to sign up for a site which requires that you provide an e-mail address to send a validation e-mail to. And maybe you don't want to give up your real e-mail address and end up on a bunch of spam lists. This is nice and disposable. And it's free. Enjoy!

I Feel Bad

I just sent out an email to my freelance business analyst telling him I will not be taking up a project. I feel bad because I sent out the email really late.

Mexico's Slim Passes Bill Gates to Be World's Richest

After so many years, Gates no longer holds onto the number one status.

Google Talk in Different Flavours

Windows Application, GMail Chat, Flash gadget for mobile by Google
http://www.google.com/talk/

JavaSript Version
http://demo.java2script.org/gtalk/

AJAX Version
http://www.meebo.com/

Top 10 Wallpapers And Icons Sources

It's going to be a valuable archive on my blog.

National Day Bonus

Yeah! My company giving out National Day bonus!

ST Engineering Reports Strong Operating Performance Of 39% EBIT Growth In 2Q2007

http://www.stengg.com/pressroom/press_releases_read.aspx?paid=1128

4 Great Eastern funds have CDO exposure

Just FYI to keep ourselves updated especially with the recent US's subprime scare, below is quoted from the BT.

GEH said that the four funds - GreatLink Choice Sept 2010, GreatLink Choice Oct 2010, GreatLink Choice Aug 2013 and GreatLink Choice Dec 2013 - are invested in CDO-related products.

It said GreatLink Choice will continue to pay the annual coupon as well as the 100 per cent principal at maturity as projected if the default losses stay within the subordination levels throughout the policy term.

Amazon's Very Own PayPal Equivalent

Google Cheat Sheet

This two page Google Cheat Sheet lists all Google services and tools as well as background information. The Cheat Sheet offers a great reference to grasp of basic to advance Google query building concepts and ideas.

Microsoft SQL Server - Get Random Integer from a Range

I created the below script today as an answer to one of the SQL question in EE. I thought it may come handy.

Basically, the below Stored Procedure will generate a random integer from an integer range. The code is tested using SQL Server 2005.

IF ISNULL(object_id('cspGenRandomInteger'),0)<>0 DROP PROC cspGenRandomInteger
GO 
 
CREATE PROC cspGenRandomInteger(@MinValue int, @MaxValue int, @RandomInteger int output, @DebugMode bit=0)
AS
BEGIN
    SET NOCOUNT ON
 
    DECLARE @RandomNumber float
 
    SELECT @RandomNumber = RAND(CONVERT(VARBINARY, NEWID()))
 
    SELECT @RandomInteger = ((@MaxValue + 1) - @MinValue) * @RandomNumber + @MinValue
    IF @DebugMode = 1 SELECT @RandomNumber RandomNumber, @RandomInteger RandomInteger
END
GO
 
IF ISNULL(object_id('cspGenRandomInteger'),0)<>0 GRANT EXECUTE ON cspGenRandomInteger TO PUBLIC
GO
 
-- Test SP
DECLARE @RandomInteger int
DECLARE @MinValue int, @MaxValue int
SELECT @MinValue = 1, @MaxValue = 10
-- Add last parameter @DebugMode=1 for debugging purposes
--EXEC cspGenRandomInteger @MinValue, @MaxValue, @RandomInteger output, 1
EXEC cspGenRandomInteger @MinValue, @MaxValue, @RandomInteger output
PRINT @RandomInteger
 
IF ISNULL(object_id('cspGenRandomInteger'),0)<>0 DROP PROC cspGenRandomInteger
GO

CPF Contribution

Just in case you are no aware of the recent changes to CPF contribution rates, refer to below.

CPF Contribution and Allocation Rates from 1 July 2007
http://mycpf.cpf.gov.sg/Members/Gen-Info/Con-Rates/ContriRa.htm

Alternative Method to Detect IE/Firefox Browser Using JavaScript

If you intend to use ActiveXObject in JavaScript, then you can always use the below "shortcut" to detect IE or other browser types.

if ( window.ActiveXObject ) {
    // IE
}
else {
    // Firefox
}

Experts-Exchange Signatures

	hongjun

	hongjun

	hongjun

Earned MySQL Master Cert

Just earned MySQL Master Level Cert

Just Upgraded Visual Basic 6.0 EE Cert and Earned 1st VB.NET EE Cert

I just upgraded my Experts-Exchange Visual Basic 6.0 certificate from Master level to Guru level.

So far I have attained

Sage
Active Server Pages (ASP)

Guru
Visual Basic Programming

Master
JavaScript
Miscellaneous Web Development
Microsoft Access Database
MS SQL Server
Microsoft Visual Basic.Net