Monday, September 05, 2005

Comparing MySQL and PostgreSQL 2 Mr. Jax writes "6 years ago Mr Poet submitted the story Comparing MySQL and PostgreSQL. Since then both databases have evolved to wherever they are today. Are the points raised 6 years ago still valid? What has changed? Are there other things to consider since then (e.g. licensing)?" This is certainly a valid question since both databases have had to evolve with the times. Have these applications been specialized to fit a particular niche market or are they both still strong competitors? What does the horizon look like for the development of these programs, especially considering the recent MySQL partnership with SCO? (Via Slashdot.) I'd love to see a good comparison of the two. But there are simply too many posts here to be of any help, and the ratio of religion to facts not very favorable. 9:50:56 PM    comment []

libraries: Lenny Bruce is not afraid Via Cycnical-C, here's a great list of post-apocalyptic books. I made a list like this a long time ago, but there's been a lot publishes since then. I've read about 25 of these. My faves include Where Late the Sweet Birds Sing by Kate Wilhelm, Ridley Walker by Hoban, and Miller's A Canticle for Leibowitz, among others. There really are a lot of good books on this list. 9:48:14 PM    comment []

America's Anti-Reagan Isn't Hillary Clinton If you read one piece this week, make it Jonathan Rauch's latest in National Journal. Using Sen. Santorum's latest book, It Takes a Family: Conservatism and the Common Good, Rauch deftly dissects the modern conservative tension. After first noting that the Senator's book is an intellectual book that needs to be taken seriously (unlike, say, a Hannity or O'Reilly book), Rauch explores the dualing conversative views of freedom and liberty. Reagan and Goldwater sit at one end, and Santorum at another. "The bold new challenge to the Goldwater-Reagan tradition in American politics comes not from the Left, but from the Right." (Via In the Agora.) 7:30:55 PM    comment []

$7.74 At a press conference this afternoon, President George H. W. Bush singled out the Walton Family for their generosity to Katrina relief efforts: I don’t think anyone would mind if I singled out the chairman and CEO of Wal-Mart, Lee Scott, who is right here. He told us that they gave the Bush-Clinton fund a total of $23 million…$15 million from the company and then $8 million more from the Walton family, the marvelous philanthropists that they are. Let’s put that in perspective. The Walton family’s net worth is $90 billion. So $8 million dollars represents .009 percent of their total. The average family’s net worth is $86,100. If an average family contributed at the same rate as the Waltons, they’d donate $7.74. There are thousands of families all around country that are being far more generous to Katrina victims than the Waltons. Few of them will be personally thanked by a former President. (Via Think Progress.) 7:25:05 PM    comment []

Senate Democrats' Plan for the Gulf The Raw Story has an advance version of the Senate Democrats' relief plan for Katrina, covering the following areas. Click through for the details: Ensuring health care for all displaced victims Getting victims housing Getting victims to family members and friends Getting students into school Bringing victims’ families together and placing them with other families Getting victims cash to meet other basic needs Providing financial relief to victims and National Guard Ensuring victims have access to food Restoring order Helping victims get jobs Supporting the National Guard Requiring accountability This is not meant as a long-term plan, it's just a relief plan, but it's more than I've seen from Senate Republicans or the President. It's a great place to start the conversation. It's official now, available from Atrios and DailyKos. technorati tags start Technorati Tags: Katrina, liberal, progressive, Democrats technorati tags end (Via Thoughts from Kansas.) 7:23:54 PM    comment []

NORTHCOM WAS READY: The military was prepared to h... NORTHCOM WAS READY: The military was prepared to help before Katrina hit, according to NorthCom's Lt Commander. All they needed was a presidential go-ahead. They didn't get one. (Via Daily Dish.) 7:21:27 PM    comment []

The Constant Gardner The other evening, we went to see The Constant Gardner. I needed a break from watching TV News all week, and in retrospect maybe 40 Year-Old Virgin would have been more of a change of pace. The Constant Gardner is a very affecting story about the abuse of poor in Africa by politicians and big drug companies. If it were "jsut" that, then it might not have made a great movie. But it works as great storytelling, with excellent performances by Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz, and the supporting actors and actresses. The story is well-told, in typical Le Carre fashion, where you don't really catch what's going on for a while (though the levels of duplicity aren't up to the level of the Smiley books). The photography and scene-setting is great, putting you right in Africa. An excellent movie, one of the best of the year. 2:13:13 PM    comment []

[IP] Hurricane Katrina Analysis - CFR Global Health Program This Laurie Garrett letter posted on Dave Farber's IP List is an excellent, scary summary of what we're facing in the Gulf States over the next months and years. Must reading. 1:57:36 PM    comment []

Flickr API Fun Flickr API Fun Rasmus continues his PHP 5 web services hacking (Via adam trachtenberg.) 9:02:56 AM    comment []

© Copyright 2005 Steve Michel. Last update: 10/1/2005; 12:08:12 AM.