Re: Oracle's relationships with expert DBAs (and the rest of us mere mortals)

On 5/30/06, Mogens Nørrgaard <mln_at_miracleas.dk> wrote:
>
> Yo Mladen,
>
> So what is this now? I'm sitting here in Anjo Kolk's living room with one
> (just one!) whisky (40 years old) and one (just one) good beer, and then
> suddenly I'm unable to drink, because I see the most bitter, twisted and old
> man in the community not being able to accept when someone else than himself
> - or me - is making a joke?
>

The quote as reported, rather than as delivered, and from people who don't know Mary-Ann but do know the public pronouncements by both her and David Litchfield doesn't sound like a joke. Doesn't mean it wasn't one or that she is stupid, just that understanding humour third hand without knowing the person doesn't work well. It also doesn't necessarily indicate bad journalism - its a good quote after all.

As to the substance, I happen to think that both David and Mary-Ann are right, Oracle do need to improve internally, particularly on their responseto newly discovered bugs (since bugs will always happen) and yes they can
learn from Microsoft here; equally the prevalent culture of install everything, run everything with maximum rights, don't apply patches and lock down after the event needs to change. Security is a two way street and from where I stand neither we as customers "it's all Oracle's fault" nor our suppliers "it's all the fault of one or two individuals" are very good at it.

-- 
Niall Litchfield
Oracle DBA
http://www.orawin.info

--
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