gistfile1.sh

root@log1:/var/www/mediawiki/core# ls -l LocalSettings.php 
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root www-data 52 2012-05-10 17:13 LocalSettings.php -> /home/otto/wmf_log_tests/mediawiki.LocalSettings.php

# root can read, no problem (of course)
root@log1:/var/www/mediawiki/core# head -n 5 LocalSettings.php 
<?php
# This file was automatically generated by the MediaWiki 1.19.0
# installer. If you make manual changes, please keep track in case you
# need to recreate them later.
#

# my user 'otto' can read
root@log1:/var/www/mediawiki/core# sudo -u otto head -n 5 LocalSettings.php 
<?php
# This file was automatically generated by the MediaWiki 1.19.0
# installer. If you make manual changes, please keep track in case you
# need to recreate them later.
#

# but www-data cannot???  Waaaaa????
root@log1:/var/www/mediawiki/core# sudo -u www-data head -n 5 LocalSettings.php 
head: cannot open `LocalSettings.php' for reading: Permission denied