From: wizofoz2k@gmail.com   
      
   On Thursday, May 12, 2016 at 10:57:56 AM UTC+10, Mladen Gogala wrote:   
      
   > geek, of the old school. That is why I will never become a member of that    
   > fabled furniture store, "The Oak Table", and I will probably never become    
   > an "Oracle Ace". Tanel is now a CEO of a company, which is not my    
   > ambition. I do, however, wish both him and Gluent the best of luck.   
      
   Indeed.  I don't mind the Oak Table. A few folks there are quite good and very   
   helpful, consistently.  Others are just non-events or marketeers and I have to   
   question the why of their presence.   
   Even the oracle-l list has become a joke with a "pack of jumping troll   
   monkeys" pouncing on any dissenting voice.    
   Oracle "ACEs"? That notion was started by an Oracle Java "evangelist" (who has   
   since left, of course!) with less practical knowledge about databases than an   
   overgrown gnat. Interesting the number of folks who have thrown in the towel   
   from the ACE circus    
   in the last 3 years.  And there will be a lot more soon...   
      
   Initially it was reserved only for Java folks. It was only when everyone   
   yelled at Oracle to stop the nonsense that dbas and other database only folks   
   started to be included.   
   Then it was promoted as a certificate for "dba competence".     
   Then it became a certificate for "evangelists".     
   Then whatever needed to be "certified" could only be through membership of the   
   club.   
   In professional terms: a joke.  I'd feel insulted if I became a member.     
   Hence why I point blank refused it. A coupla times. Besides, I hate flying and   
   that appears to be a pre-condition. Not for much longer, mind you: the "pot of   
   gold" is drying up...   
      
   But of course others enjoy that sort of thing. It's their right and I'm the   
   first to respect it.  Just don't ask me to respect the title: I can't do that.   
   Like you, I wish Tanel all the best with his new company.  Not sure what it   
   does but likely not very important to my circles.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)