======================================================================== ROBERT X. CRINGELY http://www.infoworld.com ======================================================================== Monday, September 20, 2004
ORACLE ON THE ATTACK, WACHOVIA OUT OF WHACK By Robert X. Cringely(R) Posted September 17, 2004 3:00 PM Pacific Time I get trade show invitations like my dog, Apache, gets fleas, but this one really stung: It was for the Honeymoon and Romantic Getaways Show. Do you think they'd let me go stag? Meanwhile, I took the suggestion of a reader and checked out eHarmony, but that 436-question personality profile you must fill out lasted longer than most of my relationships. I prefer to be a little more mysterious. ADVERTISEMENT -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- INFOWORLD RESEARCH ON SECURITY Planning to replace or upgrade your corporate phone system The 2004 InfoWorld Security Survey shows IT managers are worried about the effectiveness of their security systems, with good reason. Download research highlights and find out how others are dealing with the security threat at their organizations. Sponsored by Sprint. REGISTER AND DOWNLOAD NOW http://newsletter.infoworld.com/t?ctl=8D0D59:2B910B2 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Schlock and Awe: Now that the U.S. Department of Justice has cleared the way for Oracle's hostile takeover bid, virtually nothing stands between Ellison's Army and regime change in the PeopleSoft Republic. I understand CEO Craig Conway is checking out spider hole accommodations in San Jose, just in case. Tipsy Canoe: Contrary to my report from a few weeks back, it seems Bill Gates is a better tipster than he's given credit for. Waitrons at stainedapron.com say Sir Bill is a 13-percenter (and a very weird dude). Cringester Tom L. says he recently encountered his Billness in a bar in upstate New York. The bartender asked him, "So, what do you do for a living?" The miffed megabillionaire dropped a $20 bill on the bar for one drink and stormed out. Hey, like the song says, nobody knows you when you're down and out to conquer the world. Don't Let Wachovia Walk Over Ya: Word on the street is that Wachovia's Web site has been a little whacked since the bank merged ops with Prudential. One Cringe tipster says it took three hours to check her account -- and then only with the aid of customer service. Now she's seriously considering stuffing her money in a mattress (I understand that's where Gates and Ellison keep theirs -- mattresses the size of Australia). Positively Dork Street: I knew if I asked Cringe fans to submit geeky Dylanesque song titles, they wouldn't disappoint. My personal favorites: "I Ain't Gonna Work on Maggie's Server Farm No More" and "Rainy Day Women Numbers SP1 and SP2." Strangely, nobody came up with that other classic, "Tangled Up in Bluetooth." Got hot tips or a favorite obscure trade show? Send 'em to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you may get bagged in return. Send tips to [EMAIL PROTECTED] ======================================================================== Track the Apps That Matter to You Customer, user, or developer - application development means different things to different people. With InfoWorld's free weekly Application Development Report newsletter, you can track the apps that matter to YOU. The Application Development Report serves up a digest of the week's key appdev stories, so a quick scan tells you what you need to know. And one click takes you to the full story, for everything you want to know. Subscribe now at http://newsletter.infoworld.com/t?ctl=8D0D55:2B910B2 ADVERTISE ======================================================================== For information on advertising, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] UNSUBSCRIBE/MANAGE NEWSLETTERS ======================================================================== To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your e-mail address for any of InfoWorld's e-mail newsletters, go to: http://newsletter.infoworld.com/t?ctl=8D0D56:2B910B2 To subscribe to InfoWorld.com, or InfoWorld Print, or both, or to renew or correct a problem with any InfoWorld subscription, go to http://newsletter.infoworld.com/t?ctl=8D0D58:2B910B2 To view InfoWorld's privacy policy, visit: http://newsletter.infoworld.com/t?ctl=8D0D57:2B910B2 Copyright (C) 2004 InfoWorld Media Group, 501 Second St., San Francisco, CA 94107 This message was sent to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
