[development] Performance patches

[Karoly Negyesi]

We have these:

http://drupal.org/node/109037 move users.access into its own table
http://drupal.org/node/100301 Tidy up the path alias sql problem
http://drupal.org/node/78503 use mysql merge tables for log tables
http://drupal.org/node/65017 Set cached pages to more reasonable age  
(helps with performance as the searchbots will hammer you less)
http://drupal.org/node/55516 Remove database locking

If I get a pledge on any of them from core committers that they will get  
in this time, then I will reroll, add comments, minor tweaks, ensure code  
style -- as needed to get into core. I will *not*, however, fight for the  
concepts. I do not have time for that.

Regards,

NK