I really liked this one...

I answer lots of questions about Oracle.  Many of them are ambiguous, unclear, not fully specified, hard to follow.  It is like unraveling a puzzle sometimes (ok, most of the times...)

That is why I found this question to be really amusing - especially after reading the comments.  Lots of disagreement as to the meaning of the question!

So, what do you think the answer is... I'll post what I think after I see some feedback.  It is a very very interesting question.

And it also points to why I think the answer to all questions is mostly "Why" or "It depends".  We usually need a lot more information to answer what might appear to be simple questions.

A little more on Oracle OpenWorld...

I've already posted information on where to get my OpenWorld materials (see the comments for how to access the content for other sessions as well).  Now I'd like to invite you to listen in for more information as well.  I know both of the speakers - I've podcasted with Willie Hardie in the past and Mark Townsend is the guy I work for.

So, get the full recap on key Database product announcements from Oracle OpenWorld. And chat LIVE with Oracle Database VPs Willie Hardie and Mark Townsend. This exclusively online event is Oct 18/19 (two sessions). Register today: http://bit.ly/qtzxTO

Following Oracle OpenWorld last week, do you fully understand how new database product announcements impact your projects? Do you have questions about big data, new engineered systems, or clouds? Attend our OpenWorld recap and live chat with Oracle Database experts on October 18/19. For details and to register, visit http://bit.ly/qtzxTO

Calling all DBA's - we still need your input...

And time is running out.  A month ago we started taking input for Oracle University and what sort of courses they should be providing.  The survey is nearing an end - and while we received a great response to day, they would like to get more input.

So, if you have the time and inclination - check out http://education.oracle.com/pls/web_prod-plq-dad/db_pages.getpage?page_id=517

Thanks!

Coming to Dublin...

I'll be coming over to Dublin, Ireland at the beginning of November.  On November 2nd I'll be holding a free seminar from 9:00 to 15:30 at the Oracle offices.  Everyone is invited to attend.  You can register by downloading this file and emailing the contact.  It also includes all of the information for the day.  I'll be doing two of my sessions from Oracle Open World this year (Five things you probably didn't know about SQL / PLSQL), a talk on database options and then an open question and answer session at the end.

Hope to see you there!

Back from Open World...

I just returned home from Oracle Open World 2011.  It was good to meet some new faces and meet up with some old ones.

I had five sessions this year - one of them was a panel session (no content to post) - and all of them had good audiences and good questions at the end.  I've posted the materials I used here for download.  All of the powerpoints  plus the scripts I used to demonstrate what I was talking about are included.  It should all be on the Open World site as well (only the powerpoints, no separate scripts) as they collected all of the presentations from every session as it was happening and uploaded them.

Again - thanks to everyone that attended one of my sessions, I hope you got something useful out of it...