SQL 2008 R2 - Specify Port Number

If you want to firewall your SQL 2008 R2 instance, you will need to specify a port number for it to listen on. If you don't, it will be a different port each time the instance is restarted. So any firewall rule specifying a port number will need to be changed. Not practical.

Microsofts instructions on how to change this are here...but they have missed quite an important step, based on the default configuration of SQL 2008 R2:
 http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms177440%28v=sql.105%29.aspx

In SQL Server Configuration Manager | SQL Server Network Configuration | Protocols for | TCP/IP (Properties) | Protocol (Tab)

You need to set the Listen All to No. Otherwise any changes you make on the IP Addresses tab will not take effect. Only the settings under IPAll in the IP Address tab will make any difference.

They also don't tell you what the Active and Enabled fields do on the IP Addresses tab. Click the help button and it will explain it. Basically Active is looking at the OS to see if the IP address is actually in use. Enabled is something you set, it decides if this IP Address will listen at all. Make sure you Set Enabled to Yes on the ones you want to listen on.

Unity 2D and Sticky Edges

Got frustrated when my mouse cursor clung to the divide between my two monitory is Twin View with an nVidia card on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS

Answer here:
http://askubuntu.com/questions/109338/how-do-i-disable-mouse-magnet-on-middle-edge-with-multi-monitors

VirtualBox and Unity in Ubuntu 11.10 CTRL-ALT-Right

If you use Ubuntu and VirtualBox, and need to flick between workspaces, you need to press the Host Key, which key this is mapped to, is set in VirtualBox itself. I've got a Sun Microsystems keyboard, so I use the "compose" key.

I think the default on most keyboards is Right-CTRL. Press this once, then press CTRL-ALT-Right / Left / Up / Down

Everyone's a winner!

My Mum's Blackberry and Apple Crumble

Ingredients / Shopping List:
Metric

• Flour (Plain, S/R, or Wholemeal) - 110g
• Butter (or Stork Margerine.) - 55g
• Light Brown Muscavado Sugar - 55g
• Blackberries - Handful
• Cooking Apples (Bramley) - 2 Large
• Cornflour - 10g
• Golden Granulated Brown Sugar - 10g

Sneering Imperialist

• Flour (Plain, S/R, or Wholemeal) - 4oz
• Butter (or Stork Margerine.) - 2oz
• Light Brown Muscavado Sugar - 2oz
• Blackberries - Handful
• Cooking Apples (Bramley) - 2 Large
• Cornflour - 2 tsp
• Golden Granulated Brown Sugar - 2 tsp

Method:
Making the Crumble Topping

1. Rub the Butter into the Flour.
2. Mix in the Muscavado Sugar, breaking up any lumps.

Making the Filling:

1. Peel and chop the Apple into cubes
2. Stew the Apple in a pan with a spot of water to stop it burning to the bottom. Do not let the Apple go mushy, just soft on the outside.
3. Add the stewed Apple to a Souffle dish or a Vegetable Dish
4. Add the Blackberries to the same dish
5. Mix the Cornflour and Golden Granulated Brown Sugar together in a separate bowl
6. Add the Cornflour Sugar mix to the main dish and stir it into the Apple and Blackberries to coat them
7. Pour the Crumble Topping over the filling. Do not press it down, just spread it over the entire dish.
8. Bake in the oven on Gas Mark 5 / 190C until browned on top, or when the filling is sneaking out up the sides (approx. 30mins)