Explain to me, systematically, all the workings of sub-atomic physics. Explain the make-up of space/time foam. You can't, I can't, nobody can. It all depends is far from trivial, but rather it acknowledges an important truth: You can not know all things. Your point was quite clear, and also quite incorrect. Often, due to lack of instrumentation or due to the complete inability to measure or *understand* a set of unknowns or semi-knowns. Ceteris Paribus is used to rule out certain conjectures and theories. Indeed it is *central* to any effort made. Ceteris Paribus does not rule out a systematic approach to explaining negative results, rather it is central to that systematic approach. >> Oh reputed author, who is asinine? Who was harsh >> against Roby when he did some work during his breaks, instead of >> seeking clarifications which is part of any evaluation? Oh dear... reputed? You elevate me sir. I am reputed now, I must go tell my wife and children! Reputed, I've always wanted to be reputed! When will I be interviewed on Good Morning America now that I am reputed? This is what happens to reputed people isn't it...? (ok, perhaps not reputed Oracle authors, I've yet to see Jonathan or Cary on GMA). When do I get my check for being reputed? I am not reputed, I am simply someone who tries to share a little bit of knowledge here and there. I am wrong and I am right, and I do not suppose I know everything. My image and likeness does not appear anywhere on Mount Oracle. That is reserved for the truly great ones. I am just a lowly author who tries to make a difference. Who likes to write and hopes to put that to the benefit of others. I am one who loves my fellow man, who hopes to do some good in the world, but who is also, quite honestly and forthrightly, short on patience. I did not call you asinine, I called your *point* asinine. Perhaps a harsh word, but I thought it fit. Yet, now you want to call me Asinine? If you thought I was hurling personal accusations directly at you, then I apologize and want to be clear that was not my intent. If you thought that I was saying that you were drop dead, 100%, totally, without question or exception, absolutely, altogether, comprehensively, conclusively, en masse, exhaustively, fully, in all, in entirety, in toto, painstankly, perfectly, quite solidly, totally, unabrigedly, unconditionally, utterly, and fully w r o n g... Then you got my point. And... I was never harsh against Roby. Robert G. Freeman Oracle Consultant/DBA/Author Principal Engineer/Team Manager The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Father of Five, Husband of One, Author of various geeky computer titles from Osborne/McGraw Hill (Oracle Press) Oracle Database 11g New Features Now Available for Pre-sales on Amazon.com! BLOG: http://robertgfreeman.blogspot.com/ Sig V1.2 -----Original Message----- From: oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Pedro Espinoza Sent: Friday, August 17, 2007 8:51 PM To: oracle-l Subject: Re: Early 11g Advanced Table Compression #'s The difference lies in the systematic way of explaining negative cases. If one is not explaining systematically, it is part of degenerative research program, if I were to use that word coined by a philosopher of science, Late Imre Lakatos. Even though two competing research programs explain negative cases, one that does systematically wins: these debates are part and parcel of the history and philosophy of natural sciences. I was simply pointing out that "It all depends" is a trivial answer. Oh reputed author, who is asinine? Who was harsh against Roby when he did some work during his breaks, instead of seeking clarifications which is part of any evaluation? On 8/17/07, Robert Freeman <robertgfreeman@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l