oracle hint optimizations   (link)

http://www.psoug.org/reference/hints.html
http://www.dba-oracle.com/art_builder_sql_execution.htm
http://www.dba-oracle.com/art_otn_cbo_p7.htm
http://www.oradev.com/hints.jsp
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=oracle+hint+use_nl&btnG=Google+Search