Jennifer Lin’s Weblog

February 29, 2008

勇气是一种美丽——美女总裁胡敏珊十年风雨的沉淀

Filed under: Life — jennyca @ 5:46 am

她的故事不是一个二世祖顺风顺水的成功典范,在她的经历中,光环和阴影只相隔一个转身。伙伴的背叛,创业的辛苦,丧母之痛,爱情的无奈……她绝非 表面看起来那么美丽和无忧无虑。十多年的风雨,她沉淀出自己的一套淡然而果断的勇气生活哲学。现在的胡敏珊,生命中最重要的事情,并非是如何扩大自己的商 业王国,而是如何用自己的成绩,去帮助更多不幸的人。

什么叫做顺风顺水? 香梦地(Charmonde)集团主席及行政总裁胡敏珊(Christie Wo)认为就是做自己最喜欢做的事情。从多年前成功把品牌Techno Marine引进香港后,她又接连代理过了来自美国的明星专宠健康腕表Philip Stein TESLAR,艺术珠宝Sevan Bicakci、潮流型表Toy Watch、机械时计FrancVila、法国古董收藏品Automata、美容仪器Byonik、健康碱性水机Wo Water by Silveroo等等等等,涉足钟表、珠宝、美容及生活各个范畴。她的事业成就让她获得“Distinguished CEO of the Year 2005”以及2007年“美国哈姆斯顿大学荣誉博士暨世界杰出华人奖”之类众多荣誉,并在业界被誉为“名表天后”。

什么叫传奇经历?胡敏珊年轻美貌,出身豪门,衣食无忧,曾经做过模特的她,现在同时也是集团旗下品牌最完美的代言人。但早在她童年,亲身父亲离开了她和她 母亲;准确来说,她没有兄弟姐妹,只有同母异父的弟妹;2002年,她与相恋8年的Techno Marine合伙人毛志辉分手,同时辞去亚太区董事职务;2007年3月,她唯一的亲人,和她关系甚好的母亲,意外地在她眼前,坠楼自杀……如果 COSMO是一本八卦杂志,我也很容易写。

COSMO:能不能告诉我们,你现在的目标?

Christie :我以前刚开始工作时会定下很大的目标。比如起先和妈妈一起做自己品牌的服装时,我就希望有一天能到巴黎办时装秀,现在也有目标,但是更为实际些。我认为 人生最重要的是:健康、生命和目标。如果没有目标,我经过很多考验,早年曾被合作伙伴欺负过,骗过,让我明白到依赖别人是不可靠的。

COSMO:是不是像你这样个性的人,更容易成功?

Christie :前几天我去一个大学做演讲,别人问我什么是成功,我的回答是—-我要感谢那些让我挫折的人,他们让我知道自己不靠别人就是成功。我不相信一个人买本 《穷爸爸、富爸爸》后,就学会了赚钱。如果一本书能让你有钱,这个世界上未免会有太多百万富翁了!你首先应该学会怎么做人。成功的标准不是要赚多少钱,而 是要学会平衡。

COSMO:有什么创业秘诀和大家分享吗?

Christie :也许你要问我,什么样的女人可以出来创业?我很小的时候喝可口可乐时,就问我妈妈,为什么没有柠檬味道的可乐?结果20 年后,这种可乐真的有了!我从小就是个很好奇和大胆的女孩子,我讨厌沉闷的生活,觉得世界上的事物应该能变得更美丽,给人们更多选择。好奇心和创造力很重 要,你要有很多想法,让世界更美好的想法,这才对创业有帮助。另外,很多女人缺乏的是大胆和勇气。很多事情,我从小就不害怕,愿意去尝试。小学一年级全校 文艺表演会上,没有一个小朋友敢代表最低年级上台,我当时想,怎么可以这样丢脸?于是我一个人上台,跳舞唱歌,最后还得了第二名,让我很有荣誉感。那天以 后,老师都很喜欢我,这就是一种机会。因为我不怕,不怕才会有机会。

将来,回馈生活胡敏珊喜欢“make a wish”。去年生日,她捐助了一个骨髓有问题的女孩,女孩的愿望是生日和爸爸妈妈在一起过,而不是住在医院里面。胡敏珊就给她买了一辆很贵,但功能很好的推车,可以让她的父母推着她出去走走。

COSMO:金钱对你有多种重要?胜过家庭吗?

Christie :人生有很多目标,金钱会是其中之一,但是兴趣肯定是占主导的。很多人的第一、第二个商业计划可能是为了钱,而到了后来,不断地赚更多的钱,其实只是为了 一种成功的感觉。我的爸爸妈妈很早就离异了,而我妈妈则刚刚去世,很多人都认为那个意外足可以把我打倒!但我没有。

COSMO:你怎么走出那段日子的?

Christie :我开始信佛,开始学会要更爱别人。很多人死后才把钱捐出去,我觉得太晚。人生是很脆弱的,再多的钱也只能用一生。

COSMO:你如何让自己变得开心?

Christie :开心有一天,不开心也有一天。看清楚一件事情,看清楚一个人,人就会开心。我很健康,我有我的生命,而世界上有很多人的每一天要比我痛苦很多,难道你不 应该感到自己应该快乐地活着?你不是小孩子,不能让坏的东西在你心里逗留太久,要学会让坏的东西离开。

COSMO:怎么看待爱情?

Christie :我谈恋爱有很多年了,十几岁就开始谈,是时候专注自己的事业了。我现在很少去考虑恋爱的问题,但如果有一个充满智慧、心地善良、不要太自负的男人爱我,我不会拒绝。

COSMO:什么对你而言最宝贵呢?

Christie :成功不成功其实不是最重要的,重要的是不浪费每一天。很多女人不开心,是因为她们总在比较,比较谁的老公更好,比较谁比谁更漂亮。我觉得,对于表面的东 西不要太执着,最重要的还是人的内在。另外要记住的是,你绝对不会因为贬低别人而变得高一点,你只有自己做到第一,才能对得起自己。

后记

我相信活在都市里的人都有着双重性格的特质,眼前的胡敏珊也不会例外。拍摄临近结束时候的黄昏,赤柱的海显得格外凄美动人,就连带她也变得感性了许多。曾 听说胡敏珊是个寡言的人,很多事情不愿意谈。但,今天的她却比我发言更多,而且直截了当,极之随和。她最后,陪着我们所有人站在户外,等到出租车来,才上 了自己的车离开。那时候俨然已经天黑。

于是,我打算给胡敏珊,她最想听到的评价:这是一个很有爱心,很勇敢,很开心的女人,她能够给别人很多的快乐。她希望自己在别人眼里是很乐观的,是否漂亮 对她而言已经没有太大感觉。现在的她已经过了被别人的评论所左右的年龄。如果她真的对别人的看法有所谓,就不会如此成功,因为女人,永远不能把自己交给别 人掌控。

印度有一句古话:走得慢一点,等一等灵魂。时间是公平的,给多点时间,等着看看正在成长中的胡敏珊。

February 27, 2008

The Relational Database Model

Filed under: Data Modeling — jennyca @ 5:26 am

Basic Terms

A database is a collection of tables.

Each table contains records, which are the horizontal rows in the table. These are also called tuples.

Each record contains fields, which are the vertical columns of the table. These are also called attributes.

A key is a logical way to access a record in a table. A key that uniquely identifies a record is called a primary key.

An index is a physical mechanism that improves the performance of a database. Indexes are often confused with keys. However, strictly speaking they are part of the physical structure, while keys are part of the logical structure.

A view is a virtual table made up of a subset of the actual tables.

A one-to-one (1:1) relationship occurs where, for each instance of table A, only one instance of table B exists, and vice-versa. For example, each vehicle registration is associated with only one engine number, and vice-versa.

A one-to-many (1:m) relationship is where, for each instance of table A, many instances of the table B exist, but for each instance of table B, only once instance of table A exists. For example, for each artist, there are many paintings. Since it is a one-to-many relationship, and not many-to-many, in this case each painting can only have been painted by one artist.

A many to many (m:n) relationship occurs where, for each instance of table A, there are many instances of table B, and for each instance of table B, there are many instances of the table A. For example, a poetry anthology can have many authors, and each author can appear in many poetry anthologies.

A mandatory relationship exists where, for each instance of table A, one or more instances of table B must exist. 

An optional relationship is where, for each instance of table A, there may exist instances of table B. 

Data integrity describes the accuracy, validity and consistency of data.

Database normalization is a technique that helps us to reduce the occurrence of data anomalies and poor data integrity.
A candidate key is any field, or combination of fields, that uniquely identifies a record.

A primary key is the candidate key that has been chosen to identify unique records in a particular table.

Foreign keys allow us to ensure what is called referential integrity. This means that if a foreign key contains a value, the value must refer to an existing record in the related table. Foreign keys also allow what are called cascading deletes and updates.

The delete “cascades” through the relevant tables, removing all relevant records. Foreign keys can contain null values if the relationship is optional, which indicates that no relationship exists. If the relationship is mandatory, the foreign key cannot contain nulls.

Views are often used for security purposes.

From http://www.databasejournal.com/sqletc/article.php/26861_1469521_1

Clone database vs. standby database

Filed under: Oracle DBA — jennyca @ 5:08 am

In many cases, there is no difference. Oracle’s idea of a clone db is a standby db. But the standby db has one more thing that does distinguish it from some clone db’s. A standby db has the ability to replay transactions from the master, so as to always keep the standby up to date. Some other vendors’ clone db implementations may only have the clone up to date with the master at the time of the cloning operation.

From http://searchoracle.techtarget.com/expert/KnowledgebaseAnswer/0,289625,sid41_gci1295297,00.html

tablespace vs. datafile

Filed under: Oracle DBA — jennyca @ 5:06 am

A tablespace is just a logical container for those database objects that require storage space in the filesystem (these are called “segments”). The physical manifestation of the tablespace is the datafile (or datafiles) that belong to that tablespace. If you tell Oracle to put a table in a specific tablespace, that table may be in any or all datafiles that make up that tablespace. The tablespace is the logical storage here and the datafile is the physical storage. Any one segment cannot span tablespaces. A segment must be in one and only one tablespace. But if that tablespace is made up of more than one datafile, the segment can span datafiles within that tablespace.

From http://searchoracle.techtarget.com/expert/KnowledgebaseAnswer/0,289625,sid41_gci1256144,00.html

Goal Personal Planning Setting Success. Step 3

Filed under: English — jennyca @ 4:58 am

There are a couple of biggest reasons why people fail in the goal personal planning and setting success process: they do not focus on goals and they do not stay motivated.

Goal Personal Planning Setting Success – Focus.

Focusing on your goals is very important component of a goal personal planning and setting success process.

Sometimes we spend too much time focusing on things that did not work out, on failures and mistakes instead of learning from them and focusing on our goals and on the things that did work out.

Train yourself to concentrate on what you are doing. Focus your mind on positive things. Focus on things you can control and do not focus on what you cannot control.

You have a better chance of achieving your goals if you focus on them one at a time. If you focus on too many goals at the same time, you will lose focus.

Remember, you will get what you focus on.

Goal Personal Planning Setting Success – Stay Motivated.

Sometimes we face the ups and downs of life; we get discouraged and give up. How to keep yourself motivated as you work towards achieving your goals?

Here are some tips to get motivated in the process of goal personal planning and setting success.

* Remind yourself of the benefits and outcomes of reaching your goal. Go back to your goal sheets and re-read your answers you wrote across each goal to the following questions: Why do I need this? Why do I want this?

* Do you reward yourself for the things you did well? Notice every success, even small one and reward yourself.

* Focus on the positive achievements. Any failure can be turned into success. With every failure we gain an experience and new information which we can use to reevaluate our goals and adjust our plans.

* Stay away from negative people or from those who have different definition for success. Find like minded and supportive people.

Goal Personal Planning Setting Success – Visualization.

Visualization is a powerful tool in a goal personal planning and setting success process. This is a process of creating detailed mental images of what you want to achieve. Visualization is really quite simple and fun.

Imagine that you have already achieved your goal. What will you see, hear, feel, and smell once you have achieved your outcome? If you want a new house, imagine yourself living there. What are the size, style and color of your house? Visualize the furniture you will have, the color of walls. How does it feel to have this house? Make the visualization fun and pleasant.

Dream board, dream book or dream folder can help you with the visualization in a goal personal planning and setting success process.

If you want a new house, you can find a picture of your dream house, cut it and put on the board or keep it in your special dream folder.

If your goal is to take a trip to an exotic island, find a picture of the island and put it on your dream board. Begin collecting pictures for your goals. You might find them in magazines and newspapers.

Visual reminders can help you remember and focus on your goals.

Visualization is a fun and effective activity in a goal personal planning and setting success process.

From http://www.success.bz/articles/1516/goal_personal_planning_setting_success__step_3

February 26, 2008

Success Is on the Other Side

Filed under: English — jennyca @ 11:32 pm

Stuart Rosen

Everybody wants success. Some people aim for it, others just talk about it. We all know what it looks like … when someone else has it. Often times, it just seems like something too far out of reach.

The truth is … success is closer than you think. It’s just on the other side… you have to want it enough, and to be willing enough to get it.

On the other side of fear
————————-
Fear is your biggest obstacle – fear of failure, fear of the judgement of others; fear of actually succeeding. Each will trip you up every time. It will cause you to make decision that may seem “right” at the time, but they’re preventing you from actually getting over that wall.

On the other side of excuses
—————————-
Success has no excuses. You either get it or you don’t. The minute you find a resaon not to take another step towards success is the moment you stop being successful. In the symphony of success, excuses are just noise.

On the other side of obstacles
——————————
Everyone faces changes; different ones at different times. We all handle the same challenges differently. We all have different results. It’s how you handle each one and what you do with the results that count. An obstacle is something you either find a way around or allow to stop you. Remember you’ve got to get passed obstacles in order to succeed.

On the other side of failures
—————————–
Not everything works. Even if it works for other people, the same thing just doesn’t work for us. So what? Failure can either become an obstacle and an excuse or it can become your teacher in what not to do.

It takes efforts, commitment and follow-though. They call it a ladder of success for a reason … because you need to climb it in order to get somewhere. It’s not an escalator, you just don’t stand there and let it do the work for you. You have to do the work yourself. Sometimes it will be easy; other times, you’ll be carrying a heavy load on your shoulders. The ladder remains the same. Success still waits on the other side. It is going to take determination and persistence on your part to get up and over that wall.

Which side do you want to be on?

Increasing Confidence

Filed under: English — jennyca @ 11:31 pm

Robert Stuberg

The world is changing rapidly and most people are very anxious about it. In fact, I think it’s might even be stronger and more accurate to say
that most people are downright fearful of what they see going on around them.

Technological change and innovation are completely altering many aspects of our lives and it doesn’t stop there. Economics changes, social changes, scientific changes, politic changes …, the list is endless. However, the big question we all face is how are we going to response to these changes. While the specific answers about what to do take time and thoughts to uncover, the best way to approach the future and all of the changes it will bring can be summed up in one word: Confidence.

Personal confidence is one of the greatest assets we all possess. Certainly some people seem to have much more of it than others. But I believe that confidence is a skill that we can all develop. In some ways, it is undoubtedly the most important skill we can develop.

With confidence, all things are within the [realm] of possibility. Without confidence, even the smallest challenges seem insurmountable.

What I find fascinating is that people with confidence always seem to end up on top. They seem to overcome the obstacles that stand in their way. It’s as if problems and challenges run from the person who has confidence.

I think what’s so difficult for most people is the belief that confidence has to be based on having a specific solution at hand but that’s just not true. What we all respect and admire is the person who can stay up against overwhelming difficulties and persevere without an answer.

Here is the secret that most people never get. Life’s challenges are no match for the person with unstoppable confidence. While the problems or challenges might seem too big to be overcome. The person with confidence always finds a way to win regardless of the circumstances.

[Ultimately], life’s challenges run and hide from the person that maintains confidence.

This is the hard lesson to learn. The problems of life seem so big and scary and we often think of ourselves as so small and fragile. But that’s not the way it is. That’s the illusion that most people buy into. But it’s not the truth.

The truth is that we are bigger than anything that can ever happen to us in life. we have the power and ability to overcome any obstacles in our path. And the most important tool we possess is personal confidence … believe in our ability to overcome the current challenges just like we had done so many times in the past.

Whatever challenges is currently in your life, know that it’s there to help you grow and expand. Use the problems you encounter to help you build your personal confidence. Remember you wouldn’t have the problem if you didn’t have the power to overcome it. Expanding your personal confidence will allow you to take on whatever you need to in order to fulfill your personal mission.

PL/SQL FAQ

Filed under: PL/SQL — jennyca @ 6:02 am

http://www.orafaq.com/wiki/PL/SQL_FAQ

For non-SYS user to use v$xxx or DBA_* views, better to use dynamic SQL and also set AUTHID CURRENT_USER, then the current procedure can use invoker right.

Cheatsheet

Filed under: PL/SQL, SQL — jennyca @ 5:54 am

Oracle PL/SQL Cheatsheet

http://www.yagc.ndo.co.uk/cheatsheets/plsql_cheatsheet.html

Oracle Relational SQL Cheatsheet

http://www.yagc.ndo.co.uk/cheatsheets/sql_cheatsheet.html

Best Practices to Improve SQL Performance

Filed under: SQL — jennyca @ 5:50 am

Being developers we often see clients complaining about database performance. Performance problems arise when we ignore good practices. In this article I briefly list some of the best practices one should follow while working with SQL.

  1. The database design should be simple and clear. It should be user friendly. It should have flexible structure so that depending on the future requirements the database can easily be expanded.
  2. Store relevant and necessary information in the database.
  3. Use normalized tables in the database. It is better to use small multiple tables instead of using one large table.
  4. Use denormalization as the last option for your database.
  5. Use database look up tables. It will help you maintain data integrity of your database.
  6. Use numeric or small width primary key for your database tables. Processing small data takes less time.
  7. Do not store images in the database. Store URLs of images instead.
  8. Do not display SQL errors to users. Most of the attackers get benefit of error messages.
  9. Make an ERROR table in the database. Storing errors in the ERROR table will help you keep track of bugs.
  10. Assign proper data types to the fields in the database. It is better to use TINYINT for age rather than VARCHAR (45).
  11. Use database field names in SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE commands. Avoid using SELECT * or INSERT INTO TABLE VALUES (value1, value2…).
  12. Use LIKE clause properly. Improper usage may cause performance problems in your database.
  13. Use database server’s timestamp instead of web server’s timestamp.
  14. Use alias in the SQL statements which require multiple tables.
  15. Write SQL commands in capital letters. It helps in readability.
  16. Use nested queries as minimum as possible. Use JOIN statement instead.
  17. Avoid query running in the loop.
  18. Use stored procedures. They are fast and help in maintainability and security of the database.
  19. Avoid CURSOR, GOTO and IF statements. Prefer SWITCH CASES.
  20. Use comments.
  21. Do proper indexing. It will improve the speed of operations in the database tables. Improper or too much indexing affects performance of the database.
  22. Use inet_aton() function to store IPs as integers in the database. The inet_aton() function converts the string, in the Internet standard dot notation, to a network address, and stores the address in the structure provided.
  23. Retrieve the IPs with inet_ntoa() function. The inet_ntoa() function converts the specified Internet host address to a string in the Internet standard dot notation.
  24. Always encrypt the sensitive data.
  25. Do not rely on server configurations. Always write the most portable code possible.
  26. Do proper documentation of your application.
  27. Always do testing of your database application. Make cases based on requirements and maintain a checklist of the tests.

From http://www.quest-pipelines.com/pipelines/plsql/tips.htm#NOVEMBER

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