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ICE : In Case Of Emergency Campaing

We all carry our mobile phones with names & numbers stored in its memory but nobody, other than ourselves, knows which of these numbers belong to our closest family or friends.

If we were to be involved in an accident or were taken ill, the people attending us would have our mobile phone but wouldn’t know who to call. Yes, there are hundreds of numbers stored but which one is the contact person in case of an emergency? Hence this “ICE” (In Case of Emergency) Campaign.

The concept of “ICE” is catching on quickly. It is a method of contact during emergency situations. As cell phones are carried by the majority of the population, all you need to do is store the number of a contact person or persons who should be contacted during emergency under the name “ICE” ( In Case Of Emergency).

The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when he went to the scenes of accidents, there were always mobile phones with patients, but they didn’t know which number to call. He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognized name for this purpose. In an emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel and hospital Staff would be able to quickly contact the right person by simply dialing the number you have stored as “ICE.”

For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2 and ICE3 etc.
A great idea that will make a difference!

Remember:-
ICE will speak for you when you are not able to

Exp/Imp: Oracle Databases

Oracle’s export (exp) and import (imp) utilities are used to perform logical database backup and recovery. When exporting, database objects are dumped to a binary file which can then be imported into another Oracle database.

These utilities can be used to move data between different machines, databases or schema. However, as they use a proprietary binary file format, they can only be used between Oracle databases. One cannot export data and expect to import it into a non-Oracle database.

Various parameters are available to control what objects are exported or imported. To get a list of available parameters, run the exp or imp utilities with the help=yes parameter.

The export/import utilities are commonly used to perform the following tasks:

* Backup and recovery (small databases only, say < +50GB, if bigger, use RMAN instead)
* Move data between Oracle databases on different platforms (for example from Solaris to Windows)
* Reorganization of data/ eliminate database fragmentation (export, drop and re-import tables)
* Upgrade databases from extremely old versions of Oracle (when in-place upgrades are not supported by the Database Upgrade Assistant anymore)
* Detect database corruption. Ensure that all the data can be read
Transporting tablespaces between databases

How does one use the import/export utilities?
Look for the “imp” and “exp” executables in your $ORACLE_HOME/bin directory. One can run them interactively, using command line parameters, or using parameter files. Look at the imp/exp parameters before starting. These parameters can be listed by executing the following commands: “exp help=yes” or “imp help=yes”.

The following examples demonstrate how the imp/exp utilities can be used:

exp usename/password file=backupfilename.dmp log=logfilename.log
exp scott/tiger file=emp.dmp log=emp.log tables=emp rows=yes indexes=no
exp scott/tiger file=emp.dmp tables=(emp,dept)
imp scott/tiger file=emp.dmp full=yes
imp scott/tiger file=emp.dmp fromuser=scott touser=scott tables=dept
Using a parameter file:

exp userid=scott/tiger@orcl parfile=export.txt
… where export.txt contains:
BUFFER=100000
FILE=account.dmp
FULL=n
OWNER=scott
GRANTS=y
COMPRESS=y

How can one improve Import/ Export performance?

EXPORT:
* Set the BUFFER parameter to a high value (e.g. 2Mb — entered as an integer “2000000″)
* Set the RECORDLENGTH parameter to a high value (e.g. 64Kb — entered as an integer “64000″)
* Use DIRECT=yes (direct mode export)
* Stop unnecessary applications to free-up resources for your job.
* If you run multiple export sessions, ensure they write to different physical disks.
* DO NOT export to an NFS mounted filesystem. It will take forever.

IMPORT:
* Create an indexfile so that you can create indexes AFTER you have imported data. * Do this by setting INDEXFILE to a filename and then import. No data will be imported but a file containing index definitions will be created. You must edit this file afterwards and supply the passwords for the schemas on all CONNECT statements.
* Place the file to be imported on a separate physical disk from the oracle data files
* Increase DB_CACHE_SIZE (DB_BLOCK_BUFFERS prior to 9i) considerably in the init$SID.ora file
* Set the LOG_BUFFER to a big value and restart oracle.
* Stop redo log archiving if it is running (ALTER DATABASE NOARCHIVELOG;)
* Create a BIG tablespace with a BIG rollback segment inside. Set all other rollback segments offline (except the SYSTEM rollback segment of course). The rollback segment must be as big as your biggest table (I think?)
* Use COMMIT=N in the import parameter file if you can afford it
* Use STATISTICS=NONE in the import parameter file to avoid time consuming to import the statistics
* Remember to run the indexfile previously created

What are the common Import/ Export problems?
ORA-00001: Unique constraint (…) violated
You are importing duplicate rows. Use IGNORE=YES to skip tables that already exist (imp will give an error if the object is re-created).

ORA-01555: Snapshot too old
Ask your users to STOP working while you are exporting or try using parameter CONSISTENT=NO

ORA-01562: Failed to extend rollback segment
Create bigger rollback segments or set parameter COMMIT=Y while importing

IMP-00015: Statement failed … object already exists…
Use the IGNORE=Y import parameter to ignore these errors, but be careful as you might end up with duplicate rows.

As DBA’s we need to understand that AN EXPORT IS NOT A BACKUP!!! get it? never has and never will be, it is a tool for moving data between databases, if you use export, you will lose data – any solution that means you lose data is by definition not a proper backup strategy!!!!

Barak Obama – Nobel Prize

Cyclone Alert in Goa

Cyclone Alert in Goa

Cyclone Alert in Goa

The Indian Meteorological Observatory in-charge, K V Singh confirmed that the deep depression now lay 420 kms South-West from Goa.

The State is expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall associated with gusty winds during the next 24 hours, as the low pressure over Lakshadweep and surrounding areas still persists.

The Meteorological Department has asked fishermen to avoid venturing into the sea as it might remain choppy due to continued rains.

At present the depression is placed at 13.5 degree North-70.5 degree east. Currently the depression is moving towards North-West and is later expected to move towards North-East and South-East.

According to the Meteorological Department Goa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are expected to get heavy to very heavy showers accompanied by thunderstorm during next two days.

Meanwhile, post monsoon showers continued to lash the city for the third consecutive day with an overall 8.1 mm of rainfall being recorded since Sunday.

my Life is a zoo in a jungle.

my Life is a zoo in a jungle.

Portuguese Passport Requirement

Portuguese passport Requirements:

All applications for Portuguese Nationality should be submitted to the nearest Portuguese Consulate of your area.

The following documents will be necessary for the Application:

1. For those born in the Antigo Estado da India before 18th December 1961:

*- Birth certificate and Marriage certificate (if applicable) issued by the Conservatória do Registo Civil de Goa, Damão, Diu e Dadrá e Nagar Avelí.
*- Same documents for the spouse (if applicable).
*- Legal Identification Documents (current passport). If submitted in Goa: valid Indian Passport or identity certificate with attached photograph issued by Mamlatdar/Sarpanch. Other identity cards can include a ration card or a voter identity card or a driving licence.
*- Certificate of Residency with full address and photograph.
*- Certificate of Residency indicating residency between January 1974 and December 1975. If you were residing in the ex-Portuguese territories in Africa you do not qualify to apply.

2. For those born after 18th December 1961:

It will be necessary to prove that their parents were born in the Antigo Estado da India (Goa, Damão, Diu e Dadrá e Nagar Aveli) and got married there before 18th of December 1961.

*- Birth certificate of the parents, marriage certificate of the parents, death certificate if any of the parents is deceased, all issued by the Conservatória do Registo Civil de Goa, Damão, Diu e Dadrá e Nagar Aveli.
*- Birth certificate and marriage certificate (if applicable) of the individual applying.
*- Legal Identification Documents (current passport). If submitted in Goa: valid Indian Passport or identity certificate with attached photograph issued by Mamlatdar/Sarpanch. Other identity cards can include a ration card or a voter identity card or a driving licence.
*- Certificate of Residency with full address and photograph.
*- Certificate of Residency indicating residency between January 1974 and December 1975. If you were residing in the ex-Portuguese territories in Africa you do not qualify to apply.

3. For those born after 18th December 1961 whose parents were born in the Antigo Estado da India before that date and got married after that date or got married outside the Antigo Estado da India:

It will be necessary to register their parents first or at least one of the parents according to number 1.

The Nationality Application of the individual can only be submitted after the full registration (birth and marriage certificate) of the individual’s parents (or at least one of the parents) as Portuguese in the Registo Civil Português.

If the birth and the marriage certificates of the parents (or of at least one of the parents) of the individual are already registered in the Registo Civil Português, the individual just has to submit the respective references (numbers and year of the birth and marriage certificate).

Attention:

All documents written in English or any other language must be translated to Portuguese.
All documents issued in Goa must be certified by a) Public Notary, b) Collector, c) Under Secretary (Home)
All documents issued in Damão and Diu must be certified by a) Public Notary, b) Mamlatdar and Joint Secretary (Home).
All documents issued in Bombay must be certified by a) Public Notary, b) Mantralaya.
Incomplete documents or documents not following these instructions will not be accepted.
NB: These are not legal/professional translations.

This part applies to all applicants:

* The reader must consult and refer to the nearest Portuguese Consulate and ask for detailed and up to date information before proceeding.
* It would be advised to search for professional help as well (lawyer or solicitor).
* Please note that Portugal allows dual nationality but not all countries allow and you should be aware of this before applying.

Information specifically for South Africa:

A new law came into effect in Portugal at the end of May 2006 which in basic terms states that decendants in the first degree are entitled to Portuguese nationality no matter what the circumstances in which they lost their nationality. This is because they are still Portuguese decendants at heart (Decendentes Lusofonos).

In order to apply you must prove that at some stage your parent/s were Portuguese citizen/s, either before they emigrated to South Africa or that they gave up Portuguese citizenship in favour of SA citizenship because of economic reasons.

If they were never citizens, but their parents (your grandparents) were citizens, then your parents will have to apply for their citizenship to be re- instated first, before you may apply for yours.

The application must be initiated in the jurisdiction where your parents are resident and registered with the Portuguese consulate and cannot be made directly in Portugal or from another country such as the US.

The process of the application is based upon certain milestones:
1. Application for re-instatement as a Portuguese citizen;
2. Application for ID document;
3. Application for passport.

For application 1 you must tender the following documents:

1. Application form duly completed and signed by the applicant (this form you will obtain from the relevant consulate);
2. Birth certificate for the country you were born in or are resident in;
3. Substantive proof that you can identify yourself as Portuguese (ie. Portuguese language school reports, letters from community leaders stating that you are an active community member, motivational letters from other Portuguese citizens evidencing your worth as a Portuguese national etc.)
4. Proof that you have adequate medical insurance and that you will not need to rely on social services in Portugal;
5. Criminal clearance certificate.
6. Application fee (ZAR +/- 2000)

These documentary requirements vary from time to time so check with the consulate!

Once you have obtained all these documents they must be translated from English to Portuguese by a registered translator (if you have them done in one lot, this will save you costs!!!!!).

Then the translator’s signature (on each document if they are translated separately) must be recognised (assented to) by both the High Court and the Consulate (yip, they charge for all of this!).

Once this process is completed, the application will be checked by the Consulate and the application forwarded to the Department of the Interior in Lisbon for processing. This will take anywhere between 2 and 6 months to process however, if the Consulate approved the application, it is almost certain you will be granted citizenship!

YOU MUST BE VERY CAREFUL HERE AS THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS OTHER GOVERNMENTS HAVE RULED THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL TO HOLD DUAL CITIZENSHIP WITH ANOTHER COUNTRY

After regaining your citizenship, you must apply for a Portuguese ID card also via the Consulate. This usually takes around 1 to 2 months.

Once you have your ID card, you are entitled to apply for your passport which takes under 1 month.