I'm not sure that we can conclude from the database realm to the spiritual. that being said it is true that relational d.b. is being used far more than hierarchical. The main reason is that it was difficult to model a many-to-many relationship, However, we now that in a web world that demands quick access to data, XML is being used to facilitate this,and XML has, of course, a hierarchical structure and for good reasons: speed, better handling of data elements, easier administration, and handling of unexpected elements.
--- In [email protected], TurquoiseB <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In [email protected], "larry.potter" > <larry.potter@> wrote: > > > > MAHARISHI: Just as in any government there is a head of > > state, there is a prime minister, there are assemblies - > > hierarchy. > > > > Wherever there is organization, wherever there is action, > > there is hierarchical organization... > > Just to try to discuss a spiritual topic for a change :-), > government (or organization of any kind) does *not* > imply hierarchy. Just as relational databases are > generally more efficient and flexible than hierarchical > databases, organizations that are run relationally > tend to be more efficient and flexible than organi- > zations that are run hierarchically. > > I thus find it difficult to believe that the universe > has arranged itself hierarchically. > > I fully understand that Maharishi grew up in a culture > that sees the universe arranged that way, but I really > do not. Maybe it's an Occam's Razor nerd thing -- it's > pretty well established that in the world of computing > relational kicks hierarchical's ass. Why should I > believe that the universe is not as smart as a > buncha nerds? :-) >
