my $sql = "insert into messages (
     messageid,
     quoteid,
     toid,
     fromid,
     subject,
     body,
     viewed,
     timestamp_c,
     timestamp_m
   ) values (
     $next_messageid,
     $quoteid,
     $toid,
     $fromid,
     $q_subject,
     $q_body,
     0,
     CURRENT TIMESTAMP,
     CURRENT TIMESTAMP)";

##</code><code>##

my $msgdata = { messageid => $next_messageid,
                quoteid => $quoteid,
                toid => $toid,
                fromid => $fromid,
                subject => $q_subject,
                body => $q_body,
                viewed => 0,
                timestamp_c => "CURRENT TIMESTAMP",
                timestamp_m => "CURRENT TIMESTAMP" };

my $sql = "insert into msg (";
my $values = ") values (";

my $started = 0;
foreach my $datum (keys(%$msgdata)) {
    if (length($msgdata->{$datum}) > 0) {
        if ( $started ){
            $sql .= ",\n   $datum";
            $values .= ",\n  $msgdata->{$datum}";
        } else {
            $started = 1;
            $sql .= " $datum";
            $values .= " $msgdata->{$datum}";
        }
    }
}

$sql .= $values;