Archive for July, 2008

Join the mix ! The Oracle mix.

Thursday, July 24th, 2008

A new technical community site is picking up activity / interest prior to Oracle OpenWorld 2008.

Oracle Mix – http://mix.oracle.com

Collaborate and contribute with thousands of your peers on topics ranging from Database, to Fusion Middleware, Application Integration Architecture, Siebel, Hyperion, …

This year, I’m presenting on advanced SOA usecases for Data Integration at Oracle OpenWorld 2008 ( September 21 – 25 ).

Join the mix – become a member at http://mix.oracle.com .  I found it interesting that “ThoughtWorks” ( Martin Fowlers company ) is collaborating with the Oracle Mix community collaboration site. 

My Profile on Oracle Mix – http://mix.oracle.com/user_profiles/31203-david-hecksel

Pickens Plan

Thursday, July 10th, 2008

I do not normally comment or blog on national or social issues, but the person who has been accurately predicting oil prices ( “80 before I’m 80″ is a famous quote he made on CNBC in November 2007 ) displayed a sense of leadership recently that struck a chord with me.

$1 billion a day plus of lost national wealth ( a run rate of $700 billion a year recently ), General Motors at less than $10 a share ( having not much more net worth than what GE recently paid to acquire ”The Weather Channel” ), Ford at less than $5/share, and Ethanol (from Corn) – they don’t have an emoticon to capture my thoughts on the negative energy efficiency of that program ( it uses more energy to produce than it provides - did you know they use Natural Gas to produce it?  Oil to move it from one location to another?  ).

I’m not saying I agree with everything that his plan advocates.  I do not have any financial interest in any of his companies.  I do admire his leadership and intelligence.

If interested in reading about his plan: