And why do you feel I owe you or anyone for that matter an explanation, or even have an explanation for it.
It isnt like any other explanation you might want to shove down my throat would be more credible than my own guesses.

p.s before you start down the road you are heading, I want to tell you it will get us nowhere. You will probably come with your arguements for 'creationism', I will pick holes in it, then you will send me a quote from the bible as proof, (quotes which i question anyways, and wont give credence to), I will pick more holes in it, and probably throw a few questions your way and we will end up with the time tested cop out, which I could never argue (or win against), 'FAITH'.

This would be another circular argument, and another exercise in futility. You wont convince me, and i wont convince you (not that I am trying to anyways, just airing my take on the issue). Deal with it, We can't all always see eye to eye on issues.

Tpiah, Pick you poison.
Any book will do. As long as a group decides to use it as a guide to (for?) their existence. Lets also not forget to add the criteria that in most of the applicable cases, the books are always claimed to be inspired by "THE ONE TRUE , ".

LOL!!,

Thank you Nex,

I am not Kongi, neither am I a pastor. I had engaged in a few religious arguments in the past on this site, and have realized,  it sadly turns out to be a waste of time. Since it is virtually impossible to convince people to question a book they hold as a guide to how they choose their lives even to the exclusion of common
sense.

p.s The quote is one I agree with by — Robert A. Heinlein

Discussing/Arguing/bantering (or however we choose to call it) on nairaland is not always very encouraging (especially in very recent times), opposing views and arguments are met with insults rather than superior arguments to counter your points, hence I do a lot more reading than posting.

The most preposterous notion that the Homosapien has ever dreamed up is that, the Lord God of Creation, Shaper and Ruler of all the Universes, wants the saccharine adoration/adulation/financial contributions of His creatures, can be swayed by their prayers, and becomes petulant if He does not receive this flattery/contributions. Yet this absurd fantasy, without A shred of evidence to bolster it, pays all the expenses of the oldest, largest, and least productive industry in all history.

Why is he still being referred to as honorable?

As someone here already mentioned, when a lawmaker quickly admits and apologises for such, then there is a lot more at stake that they are hoping the apology will help sweep away.

The authorities should step in and confirm if 'cow blood' is indeed 'cow blood'. I am sort of skeptical that they would be taking oaths and using their 1st Born's as pledges using 'cow blood'.

I am more inclined to believe something more sinister is at play here and he is quickly apologising so as not to get exposed.

What kind of imbeciles are running that country? Apart from his flawed logic, his Arithmetic is amazing.
Assuming Nigeria actually had 100million pple, he is advocating killing 20million pple? A whopping 1/5th of the population?


AMAZING!!!! And his apology was accepted? statements like that in other places would ensure he doesnt return to that seat,

lomaxbien:

man, , grab the V6 you wont regret it at all,its more balanced when on the road, i drive a V6 ride and my previous ride had a V6 engine too,i dont regret driving this monsters.

Not trying to deride you or anyone, If you think a V6 is a monster to drive, then you need to try the V10 BMW M5.
THAT!!! is a monster,
That said, the V6, as somebody mentioned earlier strikes the balance btw power and fuel economy, Besides, it is becoming the unspoken industry standard.

I just reread the thread and i see my steps have already been suggested

Maybe its just me, But I could have sworn that a couple of years ago, bowing was actualy a sign of respect and not necessarily subservience,

Atleast, that is how that is how it was in the place i was born

This distinction is not a very clear one and mostly differs from shop to shop.
The larger organisations make a clear distinction between the environments and it isnt uncommon to see very clear distinctions - Dev, Test, QA and Production.
Smaller shops (most likely because of budgetary constraints or sometimes business needs) will have the environments broken down in 2 usually (Test and Dev), and some will merge Test and QA environments and call that 'Staging'. Some organisationa have fully dedicated QA's that require they have trheir own environments for full testing, compliance, performance, and simulations before signing off on it and handing it over to production support.

Based on this, most environments that are project based, implementation (technology or otherwise) consider themselves to be developmental environments. In such environments, depending on the set up, you have a few developers working on e.g an application with a limited number of dba's supporting this development work. Typical tasks here are normally - refreshes (schema level or full database, data or structural etc), code release support, objects (synonyms, tables, indexes etc) creation etc., and performance tuning (of a differnt kind). By using this phrase, i meant the performance tuning is usually the pro-active type, to get the best out of the database, as opposed to the reactive type where you first hear about sub-optimal performance from a user that has cc'd half the organisation in a email. Also, this environments also have less user interface.

In production environment, all the dirty work has been done, and there is little or no room for errors (as databases are a very visible part of any org. if something goes wrong, everyone will know). This environments usually require off hours on-call support, and might require carrying a pager or whatever notification methods the organisation uses. This environments support the end user (end users could range from internal customers within the org to external users, also depending on the nature of the business.)

I am at work and i had to type this off from memory. The above is by no means authoritative or even near exhaustive, and is open to corrections, additions amendments or suggestions. I havent had time to really settle down to give an answer you might like, but feel free to ask any questions. I am sure others would answer them correctly and chip in. I am not very regular on the site, and only log in when I have the time and I remember,

Thanks

Azum,
You are right, a number of the large companies run Oracle in their environment. But with that said, it is not unsual to see DBA's sit tight at most jobs. When a company has more developmental/QA environments than production, then you have more fluidity in the DBA industry, but when what you have for the most part is production support, then most of the available jobs are taken up without new jobs been necessarily added.

I thinkthis might account for why there seems to be a dearth in Oracle DBA jobs in Nigeria

Hmm, They might just be setting themslves up to be target for armed robbers, Apparently, they are cash rich.

Didnt realise it was such good business. No taxes, no rent, no transportation fees,

A-40,
this is a great recource/documentation for Oracle. Do a search and you would find documentation any aspect of Oracle you want.
http://tahiti.oracle.com/

Unfortunately, the materials I have on RAC are hard copies and not easily transferable. But if i do get a softcopy, I will forward it to you. I believe I still have you remail.

@Jabbok,
It isnt enough to say you want a dba job, you havent said anything about your location, what you are interested in and how much you know about Oracle and what aspects. Such little things would go a long way, not necessarily to get you a jpb, but might be helpful in providing pointers that would eventually prove useful.

A-40,
I am cool. Been busy, our implementation went live in August last yr, and had to stay on to provide post go-live support. Everything is stable now and I have moved on to another place. WHich is why i havent been on here as much.

A-40, Azum
I think it might also depend on the way the environment is structured. I have seen environments were most if not all of the procedures are called from within applications sitting databases. Where this is the case, depending on the SLA, most of the time DBA's shouldnt be tuning application codes, u leave that to the developer .  Unless ofcourse you are allowed to tune application code in your environment (and for obvious reasons, this isnt a best case scenario). DYnamic Perfomance Views are basically views, but as the name suggests, they are being constantly updated. You only need SQL to query the views in itself and i am not very sure why you would need PL/SQL to access the this (but I would be the 1st to concede I dont know it all, and I could be wrong).
Also, the Datapump import and Datapump export are just faster than the traditional Import and Export utilities, but they are also basically hte same thing (think landline and Optic fibre for internet access. Same thing but different speed because datat is accessed and transported differently.)
This link gives a broad overview of the diff,
http://www.dba-oracle.com/t_differences_imp_impdp_import_data_pump.htm
Again if you are just transporting data across maybe schemas or even full database refreshes, I still do not see how a knowledge of PL/SQL is imperative in this scenarios.

With all these said, a knowledge of PL/SQL is DEFINITELY an advantage, and if you have a flair for it and are adept at it, it gives you an edge. As a DBA you will come across stored procedures, pl/sql, but you can also get by without it.

p.s it is good to be argumentative, we are all learning here.

Azum,
Kudos on a job welldone. I like the way you are holding it down. Been very busy of recent, and i would also try and contribute as much as I can on this topic.

Great advice you have been giving here and I cannot but agree with all of them.

On the 11g, I spoke to an Oracle consultant/salesman recently and he said, the 11g is the first database that hasa been relatively bug free. Most of the features on 11g are features that Oracle had tested on 10.2.04 but refused to turn them on for commercial customers. So they had a relatively longer period testing it out. We have about 2 databases in 11g in test environments presently, and all I can say is, they are stable and a very big leap in the database 'self-managing' direction.

Also, Performance Tuning is the the core of most database requirements. The average user wants (either external on the street or internal within a company) do not really care how you store their data, all they want is to be able to retrieve or manipulate their data and get results in a timely manner (sometime even with unrealistic expectations giving the realities on ground). So as a DBA, providing the enabling environment is a key role. I have stated somewhere before also on this thread that PL/SQL is not a pre-requisite to be a good dba. it is an added advantage and knowing it definitely has a lot of advantages, but having a basic understanding and being able to get a general idea of the proc is usually enough for the average dba. Unless ofcourse it is a development support role.

I dont have time to log in too often, as I am away from my base now and cant log in during the day. But seeing how you have revived the thread has encouraged me.

Reading is fundamental, Understanding even more so,

I can agree to disagree, or disagree to agree, either is fine by me.
I never said inertness or inaction would yield any result. And I still dont know what our definition of whining is.
i am not one of your armchair netvolutionaries that only shout from the comfort of my home typing on the internet. But what i do know is this, black people have had the shortend for so long, our standards have dropped and we quickly settle for scrap that is thrown to us. We should hold people that purport to represent us to very high standards,

Kobojunkie,
I am beginning to believe you are being assinine,

Ok, lets take this from the top,

OP posted something about Nigerias' image in the UK. The the CRE was used as an example of an organisation that takes up such cases. Then I came in and tried to show the CRE is anything but effective.

1. You went ahead and initially put that down to my being a coward because I will call out an organization that isnt doing what it is supposed to be doing?

2. Next you have come to claim all i am doing is giving excuses because i wouldnt stand up and take advantage of the law? What law exactly are we talking about? Where did I state people shouldn't take advantage of the law. All I said is do not put your faith in the CRE. Maybe you believe this is the only law in the UK that is meant to pursue racial equality, but I will put that down to the fact that you do not live in the UK and do not understand the dynamics there.

Again, if you do not understand my position, here it is. The CRE is an inert organisation and not achieveing anything. I have not said you should not use the law if you believe your rights have been violated. All I said is the CRE is hardly the way to go.

Now, I dont do well with circular arguments, but I will give this a shot, how did you come about racism in Africa? I do not remember saying anything about that, but if we all agree with the definition of race how can you apply that to people within the same race, Perhaps I am missing something here. I also noticed, you said, I am demonizing the people I refuse to stand up against, LOL!!! I see you got me all figured out, DOLT!!!! You do not know anything about me and how I use the law. So I wont even dignify that by defending myself.

Kobo, you live in Ohio, you do nott live in the UK. So I wonder why you are so bent on defending an organisation you know nothing about. I understand you try to be a pragmatist, but to be an effective pragmatist, you have to know the facts.

Why dont you read up on the CRE and its leadership before you start defending it. Again, I havent said pple should not take advantage of the law, But take advantage of the one that works for you, Not everything that is shoved down your throat is good for yoru health.

I am out,

Kobojunkie,

CRE was quoted in earlier passges and used as an example.

2. U seem to be missing the point. Not all committees that are instituted are effective,  Even more the case when the actions and words of the head of said committee  are more often against the very ethos of what he is supposed to be upholding or defending, (I posted 2 links to buttress this, I guess you missed it)

3. I am not talking out of ass here. I lived and grew up in the UK and I know the CRE is anything but effective. The integrity has been put to test, over and over again and Droolips is as Inert as a snowball in Hell.  So it is presumptuous of YOU to tell ME that I am making judgments on an organization I am yet to engage. You do not know that as a fact. Or you assumed I just felt like disparaging Trevor Phillips.

4. You live in the US, perhaps you should do a background research on the organization and get feelers from the people he is supposed to be representing before you start attacking my stance on the organization.

5. Why would you think my skepticism of a particular body means I am cowering in fear? Why must it be one or the other?

6. Finally, I never said anyone should not fight for their right. My personal creed is noone could love me more than me, so I do not expect anyone to put my interests above their. Which was what brought me to highlighting the CRE. You are better off knowing who you are dealing with and where they stand on certain issues.
it would seem foolhardy to approach an organization which the leader has called on the country to lookout for 'white middle class people'  in times of recession (whilst claiming racism is dead in the uk) and expect to get results. But hey!!! maybe it is just my nature not to trust a chairman who would rather call for the country to help white folks rather than black folks. One begins to wonder who Trevor believes is in need of the Race Equality.

@Seyibrown,
I personally do not believe England is any less racist than other countries in Europe. They are only the slickest at hiding their true nature. And they have perfected the overt racism and made it covert and systemic. And that nature is a testament to how such a small nation could achieve so much and conquer so many in the past. It is very easy to get taken by them and end up being under-estimated, But it doesnt make them any less lethal,

Kobojunkie,
Perhaps you misunderstand me, I have no problems with putting your faith in the law . But when an organisation such as CRE (which for the most part is a Joke) and is headed by a coon such as droolips Phillips, then you would be wise to approach such organisations with caution.
Regardless of whether you agree or not, An organisation and it 'direction cannot be separated from the leadership,
Droolips has been there since inception, and the fact that he has remained head of the CRE for that long (in a society where racism is not very overt, but systemic and very real) then he must be doing something right for the people that created the CRE. If the CRE was to be effective, then it would be rocking boats, and not have its HNIC proclaiming racism is dead,
You can do a search on Trevors position on race relations in the UK,

My angle is the CRE is hardly the law in the UK,

Isnt Trevor 'racism is dead' Phillips the chairman of the CRE? I wouldnt put much faith in that organisation.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1121442/TREVOR-PHILLIPS-Why-Britain-LEAST-racist-country-Europe.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1081125/Help-white-working-class-risk-surge-far-Right-extremists-says-equalities-chief-Trevor-Phillips.html

One would expect an illegal immigrant to atleast try to keep a low profile,
He is going to get caught, If I know the English as well as i think, then he is just an anonymous phone tip away from being caught,

Earthmama,
what if I told you I have spent some yrs in the UK and I wasnt doing menial jobs?. And I could name 10 nigerian off the top of my head who worked in Goldman Sachs whilst I was there, and countless other IT professionals (project managers and software testers especially).
I give this examples cos I know I am not unique in my experiences, and just random examples that I know off shows you are not entirely right. Maybe it is a generation thing tho'. I know loads of folks who have been in the UK since the 80/early 90's all holding it down rather well. And i am not talking about the illegal immigran who can only get a job as a parking attendant or as a security guard. You do realise a lot of Nigerians schooled in the UK ine the late 60 to late 70's. A large number of the children of this flks have returned and have managed to get stuff done. If the argument was about racial composition of the work force, then the UK is generally a tihter market for black pple. And that is not unique to Nigerians alone. Now add the fact that some are on student visas, and a sizeable few are illegal, then findng those with good jobs in the current climate would be difficult. But then, that is not a fair metric to judge by,

@Ndipe
I have a fair idea of how much different qualified medical specialities make in the US, from region to region. And I also did mention they are my immediate inner circle. For your clarification, that translates to good friends and immediate family. And besides the information is not secret. You can find how much diff professionals earn in the US by region and yrs of experience. So I doubt i have said anything out of the ordinary,

Been a while,
I attended 2 Oracle organized workshops for 11g New featurs, and I can sey the database has been greatly improved. Oracle is really moving towards and intellgent self managing database. The flashback feature has been greatly improved and recovery should now be a breeze.

I will look through my notes and post some improvements 11g has over 10g on here ASAP.

This Thread is very funny. And the level of ignorance contained in it is amazing.
I am a Nigerian living/working in the west. My immediate circle and people I know include countless doctors who earn a minimum of $150k and abov, numerous business school grads who all work in fortune 500 companies. (including 2 vice presidents) for one of the top five banks (by the way, these vp's are not even in their 30's yet). Countless consutlants for deloitte and accenture. And all of these people, none of them out of a job yet, So all this talk of Nigerians only doing menial jobs, etc etc is all meaningless and besides the point.

True times are tough and the economy is bad, but this is true for everyone everywhere. But what I find amazing is, it is people whose livelihood directly depends on the US' ability to purchase their only product, that seem to be rejoicing at what they deem to be the misfortune of other Nigerians in the west. With the ever falling prices of crude (presently lower at the national budgetary provisions), I would have though we would be thinking of how to move our country away from oil export dependency

As for me, I still wake up at 8am, leave my house by 9am and get to work by 9:20. Leave work by 5:30 and I am home by 5:50pm. Am I rushing home anytime soon? Nah, I don't think so. But guess what? for al the hating I see on this board, if I do intend to come back home, i will most likely still sign a very lucrative contract with a firm back home, and there will be NOTHING anybody can do about it,

Sorry to disappoint you. There wont always be support.
Support would last for a while as would be decided (depending on a number of factors). And that is assuming the car gets phased out. But if the company itself collapses, then the industries that depend on it to make the parts would slowly but surely go the same way.

So conventional wisdom would be to wait and see what happens, In this current economic climate, it is better to wait things out than to take chances. Remember noone really know what is going to happen. all the so called experts cant say either way what the economy would be in a few months.

Nice Machine, But with Chrysler facing imminent bankruptcy. Wouldnt it be wiser to see what models they will be keeping and what models they would be dropping in the coming year.
You dont want to have a car that would have no support within the next couple of yrs,

Casino
Goodfellas

LondonCool:

I have seen ECO remarks such as "the applicant is quite knowledgeable" "the applicant is quite eloquent", "the applicant does seem quite intelligent",etc after interviews.

Are these really compliments? Or demeaning comments? Why should the eloquence or intelligence of a Nigerian be worthy of mention? If it wasn't disproving some pre-conceived notion of the contrary,