Underrated/Overrated: Bill Gates

[rowech]

Opinions on Gates as he heads out the door?

[Logan]

Are you asking us if we think Bill Gates is hot?

[hoopsguy]

Trout option is kinda tempting.

[ShaneTheMaster]

The man was smart enough to steal from a thief to become a gazillionare. Underrated.

[path12]

I want to know how on earth he could be considered overrated.

[Logan]

I would think his philanthropic efforts would, at worst, make him adequately rated.

[Surtt]

Business genius.

Very short sighted as far as software goes.

[PackerFanatic]

Like it or not, he has changed computing for the better (even if I feel that M$ can do much better things with their software, as Surtt stated too)

[ISiddiqui]

Not that I agree per se, but the thought would be that he's essentially made himself by co-opting other people's good ideas, squeezing out the originators of those ideas from the market, and then once he's the only game in town making shitty software.

Yep. A lot of MS critics (especially Apple fanbois) like to portray Gates as just some copycat and bully. Gates was incredibly intelligent in the business side of the equation and saw the big picture much better than any of his competitors. Such as when he gave IBM a license, not ownership, of MS-DOS. IBM really didn't seem to care, but Gates saw the potentials for that.

[st.cronin]

I would think his philanthropic efforts would, at worst, make him adequately rated.

+1

[Fidatelo]

I think Gates is a great man. Balmer... not so much. It will be interesting to see how things go for MS in the next 10+ years.

[Raiders Army]

I'd go with "Hard to Read" or "As Scouted".

[KWhit]

I voted underrated. It's chic to bash Windows and Gates these days, but what he's done is pretty remarkable.

[Autumn]

I'd say he's overrated in business, but very underrated in philanthropy, so we'll call it hard to read.

[RendeR]

You folks praising gates for philanthropy DO understand that the only reason he does any of that is for the taxation benefits, right? Every penny he pours into chairties, startups, new ideas, schools etc etc is covering his businesses ungodly tax requirements.

I'd be rather impressed if the giving outstripped the taxing by much at all.

[Autumn]

Of course we have no way of knowing *why* Bill Gates does what he does. But I would guess you haven't spent a good deal of time involved with the Gates Foundation if you think it's just a tax writeoff. He could just as easily give his money to some other charity, but instead has put a lot of blood and sweat into creating the largest charity in the world and tackling some of the most vital problems. Would I rather his money to go the U.S. Government? Nope.

[Logan]

You folks praising gates for philanthropy DO understand that the only reason he does any of that is for the taxation benefits, right? Every penny he pours into chairties, startups, new ideas, schools etc etc is covering his businesses ungodly tax requirements.

I'd be rather impressed if the giving outstripped the taxing by much at all.

Dumb post of the year award.

[molson]

Dumb post of the year award.

+1

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is an amazing organization. It goes so far beyond favorable accounting or whatever the hell you were accusing him of.

[Fidatelo]

Dumb post of the year award.

:+1:

[RendeR]

+1

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is an amazing organization. It goes so far beyond favorable accounting or whatever the hell you were accusing him of.


I am not saying that the tihngs his money does aren't great and good, but if you honestly believe he created them out of some kindness in his heart then you're a fool.

[st.cronin]

Call me a fool, then.

[RendeR]

Call me a fool, then.



Fool.

[Logan]

I'm not even going to bother.

[molson]

I am not saying that the tihngs his money does aren't great and good, but if you honestly believe he created them out of some kindness in his heart then you're a fool.

Please explain, using relevant tax laws, how there is a net monetary gain from Bill Gates' philanthropic donations for himself personally or his companies.

That's the most ridiculous assertion I've ever read here, I'd like to see you attempt to support it beyond "it's for the taxation benefits".

Sure, there's tax benefits to both personal and corporate charitable giving, but neither actually creates a profit for the giving person or company, especially not on the scale of Gates' foundation.

Do you think he's profitting when he transitions himself out of Microsoft this year to focus on the foundation?

How much did you profit off of charitable contributions this year? Clearly you're in on this scam since if you know so much about it. (After all that's what we're talking about here, individual charity. Bill Gates, not Microsoft, created this foundation).

[RendeR]

Please explain, using relevant tax laws, how there is a net monetary gain from Bill Gates' philanthropic donations for himself personally or his companies.

That's the most ridiculous assertion I've ever read here, I'd like to see you attempt to support it beyond "it's for the taxation benefits".

Sure, there's tax benefits to both personal and corporate charitable giving, but neither actually creates a profit for the giving person or company, especially not on the scale of Gates' foundation.

Do you think he's profitting when he transitions himself out of Microsoft this year to focus on the foundation?

How much did you profit off of charitable contributions this year? Clearly you're in on this scam since if you know so much about it. (After all that's what we're talking about here, individual charity. Bill Gates, not Microsoft, created this foundation).


Reading comprehension isn't your strong suit is it?

Do you realize just how much money Gates makes? Sure HE created the charity, no shit, he's gotta deal with his tax burden too, just like everyone else.

I never said he was profiting from anything, simply that by creating charitable and philanthropic systems to pour funding into he reaps the benefits on the overall bottom line by balancing this with his tax burden. it is NOT in any way to MAKE money, simply to avoid having to spend more to the government. It is far more beneficial to have DEDUCTIONS at tax time than it is to simply pay your bill. read the tax rules one day, or ten, there are a lot of them.

You believe he created these wonderful things because he's a kind and caring soul.

I believe thats the largest pile of horse shyte this side of capitol hill. its all a matter of opinion, you have your goody goody feelings , I have my pessimism.

Be great to know which side is really right wouldn;t it? but we peons in the world probably will never know.

Try not to be so touchy. I'm not questioning YOUR intentions, just Gates.

[molson]

I never said he was profiting from anything, simply that by creating charitable and philanthropic systems to pour funding into he reaps the benefits on the overall bottom line by balancing this with his tax burden. it is NOT in any way to MAKE money, simply to avoid having to spend more to the government. It is far more beneficial to have DEDUCTIONS at tax time than it is to simply pay your bill. read the tax rules one day, or ten, there are a lot of them.


I realize that there's tax benefits to charitable contributions, I only responded to your point that "the only reason he does any of that is for the taxation benefits", which makes zero sense unless he somehow comes out ahead (i.e. profits). And yes, you're not saying he's MAKING money, but you are saying that it's a net financial gain, which is just as wacky. He's not getting 100+% back of what he contributed in tax savings. Anything less than that 100+% back and it makes no sense from a purely business standpoint.

And I have "read the rules", though I find your interpretation of them fascinating.

[jeff061]

It's all about the money. Only a fool would call him overrated.

[Logan]

I never said he was profiting from anything, simply that by creating charitable and philanthropic systems to pour funding into he reaps the benefits on the overall bottom line by balancing this with his tax burden.

You're failing to understand that he is not coming out anywhere close to "balanced" at the end of the day.

[jeff061]

Oh, and Render is making no sense.

This post is important.

[ISiddiqui]

Call me a fool, then.

QFT

(I mean then call me a fool too, not that its true that st. cronin is a fool ;))

[RendeR]

I realize that there's tax benefits to charitable contributions, I only responded to your point that "the only reason he does any of that is for the taxation benefits", which makes zero sense unless he somehow comes out ahead (i.e. profits). And yes, you're not saying he's MAKING money, but you are saying that it's a net financial gain, which is just as wacky. He's not getting 100+% back of what he contributed in tax savings. Anything less than that 100+% back and it makes no sense from a purely business standpoint.

And I have "read the rules", though I find your interpretation of them fascinating.


So all the great press and PR that he gets from the charities and organizations isn't worth anything...ok, sure. HE'd rather pay that to the government, of course he would.

The word...what is that word I'm searching for....oh yeah....


naivite

[molson]

So all the great press and PR that he gets from the charities and organizations isn't worth anything...ok, sure. HE'd rather pay that to the government, of course he would.

The word...what is that word I'm searching for....oh yeah....

naivite

So you've given up on your original point and have now, for the 1st time, thrown in the intangable benefit of "great press and PR", after lecturing me on how tax deductions work.

I'll move on....

[RendeR]

So you've given up on your original point and have now, for the 1st time, thrown in the intangable benefit of "great press and PR", after lecturing me on how tax deductions work.

I'll move on....




Oh my fucking od, can you READ? seriously, go back to school and try comprehension 101.

This was NEVER about HOW the deductions work, it was never about gates making MORE money from the charitties or anything else. READ.

You were parising the man for doing something good and kind and wonderful, I simply said he had other motives, why is that so fucking hard for you to digest? You canot deny he gets a major benefit tax-wise for pouring funds into charities, or do you not understand THAt part?

seriously, if yer gonna be an asshole when someone disagres with you at least understand WHAT is being said.:banghead::banghead::banghead:

[Young Drachma]

I am not saying that the tihngs his money does aren't great and good, but if you honestly believe he created them out of some kindness in his heart then you're a fool.

He goes way beyond the call of duty. The stuff they're doing for inner city school kids, the work they do for AIDS is all remarkable and a modern day Carnegie situation, but way better. I'm impressed with his philanthropy way more than anything he's done at MSFT.

[RendeR]

He goes way beyond the call of duty. The stuff they're doing for inner city school kids, the work they do for AIDS is all remarkable and a modern day Carnegie situation, but way better. I'm impressed with his philanthropy way more than anything he's done at MSFT.


And I can agree with that to a point, but Do you honestly expect people to belive he'd have done it if there were NO benefits to himself or his corporation in the first place?

I'm not disparaging what he does and has done, I'm simply saying that *I* believe had he not had a DISTINCT benefit, then these hthings might never have come into being to begin with, or at the very least to the extravagant levels that you admire him for.

[RendeR]

QFT

(I mean then call me a fool too, not that its true that st. cronin is a fool ;))



ok this made me laugh. :D

and I should have included a couple smilies after the response to Cronin too, it wasn't meant to be rude but more in jest. I KNOW he's a wolf...err.fool, yeah fool ;)

[Young Drachma]

And I can agree with that to a point, but Do you honestly expect people to belive he'd have done it if there were NO benefits to himself or his corporation in the first place?

I'm not disparaging what he does and has done, I'm simply saying that *I* believe had he not had a DISTINCT benefit, then these hthings might never have come into being to begin with, or at the very least to the extravagant levels that you admire him for.

I'm bowing out of this discussion with you too, but I'd simply say that...whether it's preferential tax policy or simply better incentives to ensure I get a better rate on car insurance, EVERYONE is looking for a better deal and would gladly take incentives to do what they'd do anyway or even stuff they wouldn't do, if there was a compelling financial interest in doing so.

The whole "feel good" thing at the end of the night, would just be the bonus.

That said, the point here is that you're wrong. That's okay if you disagree, you can and I'll do it too. But I think you're off base here on this particular one.

[Galaxy]

I am not saying that the tihngs his money does aren't great and good, but if you honestly believe he created them out of some kindness in his heart then you're a fool.

He's giving away his ENTIRE fortune (and Warren's as well). He is also getting himself involved full-time. I don't think anybody does something like that just to avoid taxes.

http://money.cnn.com/2008/01/04/news/newsmakers/gates.fortune/index.htm

[ISiddiqui]

From wikipedia:

According to a 2004 Forbes magazine article, Gates gave away over $29 billion to charities from 2000 onwards.

I is thinking his tax bill is far, far less than that over those 4 years. Regardless of any tax benefit, what he's given is well in excess of that. I think he'd be respected even if he just gave what his tax bill was every year, but he's gone light years behind that.

[RendeR]

That's okay if you disagree, you can and I'll do it too. But I think you're off base here on this particular one.



This part of your post makes sense, and I agre with you that we'll have to disagree, but it does NOT make me wrong, Simply of different mind than you.

have a good one.

[jeff061]

Arguing with fuzzy unprovable ambiguities is fun!!! You can't lose!

[Galaxy]

So all the great press and PR that he gets from the charities and organizations isn't worth anything...ok, sure. HE'd rather pay that to the government, of course he would.

The word...what is that word I'm searching for....oh yeah....


naivite

Do you honestly think that Bill Gates really cares about "press" and PR? The guy has nothing to prove.

Bill gets criticize for not giving away money (which it's no one business in what he does with HIS money); not he gets criticize for giving it away due to "other" reasons.

Let me ask you, what about Warren Buffett? He's giving away his entire fortune, pretty much to the Gates Foundation.

[Galaxy]

Oh my fucking od, can you READ? seriously, go back to school and try comprehension 101.

This was NEVER about HOW the deductions work, it was never about gates making MORE money from the charitties or anything else. READ.

You were parising the man for doing something good and kind and wonderful, I simply said he had other motives, why is that so fucking hard for you to digest? You canot deny he gets a major benefit tax-wise for pouring funds into charities, or do you not understand THAt part?

seriously, if yer gonna be an asshole when someone disagres with you at least understand WHAT is being said.:banghead::banghead::banghead:

What are his motives?

[molson]

This part of your post makes sense, and I agre with you that we'll have to disagree, but it does NOT make me wrong, Simply of different mind than you.

have a good one.

Your original statements in the thread are clearly wrong. So you shifted your point to something more ambiguous so you could leave the argument with some pride intact.

[Karlifornia]

Oh my fucking od, can you READ? seriously, go back to school and try comprehension 101.

This was NEVER about HOW the deductions work, it was never about gates making MORE money from the charitties or anything else. READ.

You were parising the man for doing something good and kind and wonderful, I simply said he had other motives, why is that so fucking hard for you to digest? You canot deny he gets a major benefit tax-wise for pouring funds into charities, or do you not understand THAt part?

seriously, if yer gonna be an asshole when someone disagres with you at least understand WHAT is being said.:banghead::banghead::banghead:



Wait...who was being the asshole?

[hoopsguy]

I think you could argue that there are PR implications, both for Microsoft indirectly and in crafting the "Bill Gates legacy". I suppose you could argue that his wife has been a good influence on him, pulling him towards endeavors where he has the opportunity to provide a greater good. But suggesting that it is some kind of a "net positive" financially doesn't seem like the right argument to me.

I've also read a number of articles on how this generation of philanthropists are changing the rules on how to give away money. Gates is one of the people used as an example of successful business people who are taking a very hands-on approach to their charitable endeavors, demanding accountability rather than signing checks, and applying some of the lessons they learned as titans of their industries.

[Warhammer]

I went overrated. Its not that Bill Gates has not succeeded or done well, but there would have been someone else there to fill the void had he not been around. The PC would still be in every house, and some one else would have thought to copy Apple's file/folder system.

So yeah, he's great, but not as great as everyone thinks.

[jeff061]

While it's certainly possible, I find it hard to see someone else making quite the impact he did.

[Galaxy]

I guess he really can't win:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25332025/page/2/

[rowech]

It cracks me up that:

a) people feel they should be able to tell him to how to spend his money
b) believe the government will do a better job with his money than he will

[Autumn]

I is thinking his tax bill is far, far less than that over those 4 years. Regardless of any tax benefit, what he's given is well in excess of that. I think he'd be respected even if he just gave what his tax bill was every year, but he's gone light years behind that.

This is exactly right. I'm sure lots of rich guys give just to avoid paying taxes (although of course that's not exactly to their benefit, just paying someone else instead of the Feds). But I think it's clear that Gates is not in this crowd, the amount of giving and the amount of personal effort he's put into setting up the foundation make clear that he has other motives.

I understand your point, RendeR, but I think you just don't have a lot of particular knowledge about the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and about what he's put into it. Your argument would make sense about a generic rich guy, but doesn't hold up well when it comes to Gates.

Gates has given well over $29 billion to his foundation. If you think he would have paid more than $29 billion in taxes in that time I think you're mistaken. Anyone who has listened to him talk about the foundation, or been involved with it knows it's more than just a line item to him.

[Galaxy]

It cracks me up that:

a) people feel they should be able to tell him to how to spend his money
b) believe the government will do a better job with his money than he will

I laughed at that. If the foundation does become a bigger power than the WHO/UN, I have zero problems with that. However, the foundation works with partners throughout the world.

Also, when did it become illegal to donate your money in lieu of taxes? Do you really want to give the government MORE money? At least the Gates Foundation will create a lasting impact. You give that money to the government, I can guarantee you that you won't see any long-term impacts from it. It not as if he is stashing his wealth in offshore bank accounts to hide from his tax debts.

[chesapeake]

I am not saying that the tihngs his money does aren't great and good, but if you honestly believe he created them out of some kindness in his heart then you're a fool.

I can tell you first hand that Gates is a true-believer with the Foundation and its goals. For all of his faults, the guy is a genuine humanitarian.

[Logan]

LIAR!!! ASSHOLE!

[Kodos]

His charitable work in the destruction of the Dallas Cowboys was over and above the call of duty. I salute you, Billy boy. :)

[Galaxy]

His charitable work in the destruction of the Dallas Cowboys was over and above the call of duty. I salute you, Billy boy. :)

:D

[JeeberD]

His charitable work in the destruction of the Dallas Cowboys was over and above the call of duty. I salute you, Billy boy. :)

I'm not sure which of the new smilies is more appropriate here:

:banghead:

or

:rant:

or

:nono:

If I had to choose one, though, it would most likely be:

:deadhorse:

[Galaxy]

LIAR!!! ASSHOLE!

Harsh.....:)

[RendeR]

Ok, allow me to at least say that the overwhelming attitudes here gave me reason to do some research and while my general opinion of people with more money than god remains quite negative, I have to admit that based on the numerous articles and reports I found and skimmed through that Gates and his wife have done some pretty amazing things.

Color me convinced for now.

[RendeR]

Besides, anyone who utterly detroys the Dallas Cowboys as a franchise can't be all bad.

[Kodos]

Amen, brother. Amen.

[Autumn]

Glad to hear it. I know where you're coming from, I have a pretty negative attitude towards people who can have more money than entire countries and not feel compelled to do greater good with it. But Gates seems to be one of the few who has felt the same way.

[Galaxy]

Glad to hear it. I know where you're coming from, I have a pretty negative attitude towards people who can have more money than entire countries and not feel compelled to do greater good with it. But Gates seems to be one of the few who has felt the same way.

Just curious, why "should" they? It's great that they do. If they earned it, then I don't think it's any body's business as to what they do with it. Also, just because someone who is multi-millionaire or billionaire, it doesn't mean they have that sitting in a bank some place. They're what their businesses/assets are worth.

[Noop]

Just curious, why "should" they? It's great that they do. If they earned it, then I don't think it's any body's business as to what they do with it. Also, someone who is multi-millionaire or billionaire doesn't mean they have that sitting in a bank some place. They're what their businesses/assets are worth.

:+1:

[Logan]

And they also create businesses which gives plenty of people jobs, and those people earn salaries that are spent at other people's businesses, and that's basically how our economy grows.

I'm not saying all millionaires/billionaires are saints, but many indirectly do a lot to help everyone.

[Autumn]

I don't mean "should" as if they're obligated somehow. I mean "should" in the sense that in my personal ethics it is wrong to have more wealth than a million other people and not do something about that. Obviously plenty of people disagree, thus our world today.

I realize that wealth does not equal cash, and that wealth often (but not always) involves job creation. But I think it is just as clear that someone with enough wealth to be among the richest individuals in the world clearly has more than they need, and clearly has enough money that they could easily solve problems for thousands and thousands of people who A) do not have the resources to solve those problems, and B) are very likely to die of them. I myself could not be in that position and sleep at night without at the very least doing what Bill Gates does. Clearly I will never be in that position.

[molson]

I don't mean "should" as if they're obligated somehow. I mean "should" in the sense that in my personal ethics it is wrong to have more wealth than a million other people and not do something about that. Obviously plenty of people disagree, thus our world today.

I realize that wealth does not equal cash, and that wealth often (but not always) involves job creation. But I think it is just as clear that someone with enough wealth to be among the richest individuals in the world clearly has more than they need, and clearly has enough money that they could easily solve problems for thousands and thousands of people who A) do not have the resources to solve those problems, and B) are very likely to die of them. I myself could not be in that position and sleep at night without at the very least doing what Bill Gates does. Clearly I will never be in that position.

And there's definitely people all over the world, far poorer than you, who wonder why someone in America, with your wealth, needs all the luxuries you enjoy, instead of sharing what you make with them.

Sure, Gates has far more "discretionary" income than you or I almost anyone. But he has no greater "duty" to give (if there is such a duty), than anyone else, at least proportionally.

[ISiddiqui]

Jesus Christ... can't someone have a different moral belief and make a throw away comment about their moral beliefs without the freaking third degree about it?

[molson]

Jesus Christ... can't someone have a different moral belief and make a throw away comment about their moral beliefs without the freaking third degree about it?

Nope.

It's a message board. Sharing your opinions/beliefs are fine, but you're inviting criticisms/critiques/disagreements/praise/agreement, anything. It'd be pretty boring if every reply was "+1".

[ISiddiqui]

We could... you know... talk about the original topic at hand.

I'm just waiting for someone to say, yes, we should be under a world government and everyone in the West should be taxed highly and have their wealth going to help the less fortunate in the 3rd World and then this thread to collapse upon itself. Hasn't this topic been done to death on these forums?

[molson]

Are all 12,601 of your posts on topic with the thread title? Don't make me go back and check...:)

[Logan]

Also think it's important to point out that some of these people don't want (or need) their names attached to the good things they do. Through a work relationship, I can tell you that one of the biggest pricks out there, George Steinbrenner, donates millions every year anonymously to organizations in NYC and other areas. One of his favorites is being the guy that funds the "Dear Santa" requests from kids whose families don't have the means to buy gifts.

Yankee fans should not let this news excuse the Jay Buhner trade.

[ISiddiqui]

Are all 12,601 of your posts on topic with the thread title? Don't make me go back and check...:)

I try not to rehash arguments that have been done to death and over again in unrelated threads.


Anyway, I think we'll see a number of retrospectives on Bill Gates' career and legacy this week. CNet already has something up. By Friday, it'll be on all the major news sites. I think it may refresh people's thinking on how quickly Gates built up a computer empire and what an amazing businessman he really was.

[Autumn]

And there's definitely people all over the world, far poorer than you, who wonder why someone in America, with your wealth, needs all the luxuries you enjoy, instead of sharing what you make with them.

Sure, Gates has far more "discretionary" income than you or I almost anyone. But he has no greater "duty" to give (if there is such a duty), than anyone else, at least proportionally.

Yes, your first paragraph is absolutely right, and that's why I'm busy doing something about it. I in fact do share what I make with them, as paltry as it is around here.

And yes, I agree, the rich have no "duty" and they are not required to do anything, any more than I am.

But I don't agree that the difference between him and me is only that of proportion. If we quantified how much a person needs to live, even to live extravagantly, it would still be a tiny fraction of his wealth. That's obviously very different from a regular Joe, like myself, who in fact does not have any wealth, and needs every paycheck to get by. There is much more than a difference of proportion there, it is a qualitative difference.

But to get back on topic, we can applaud Gates and all his peers who have both allowed me to make a living working at home on my computer, and allowed us to help the rest of the world so much easier for the same reason.

[Galaxy]

The super wealthy are ushering in a new era of philanthropy. Gates and Buffet are just the elite guys. Barron Hilton (grandpa of the Hilton sisters) pledged his estate (at least $2 billion dollars) to charity. Michael Dell and his wife have a $1 billion-plus foundation. British hedge fund manager Chris Hohn just donated a half of billion pounds (what's that, over a $1 billion US?).

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/jun/22/voluntarysector.charitablegiving

I think the biggest change is that they are no longer just writing checks. They are getting pro-active and demanding results. I think this part could be huge.

[SFL Cat]

His charitable work in the destruction of the Dallas Cowboys was over and above the call of duty. I salute you, Billy boy. :)


Overrated for that alone. :mad:

Actually, it does seem that he has progressed from his "I'm richer than God," jerk phase to "time to make the world a better place," phase.

[Galaxy]

Overrated for that alone. :mad:

Actually, it does seem that he has progressed from his "I'm richer than God," jerk phase to "time to make the world a better place," phase.

To be honest, I never got that "richer than God" vibe from him. I get that from Trump, but not Gates. Gates is just ultra-competitive, maybe too competitive (if that is such a bad thing in business). Plus, he got very rich at a very young age. He's still pretty young.

[SFL Cat]

He shed it quickly after he married back in '94 or '95. Nothing like a good woman to keep a man honest.

[st.cronin]

Nope.

It's a message board. Sharing your opinions/beliefs are fine, but you're inviting criticisms/critiques/disagreements/praise/agreement, anything. It'd be pretty boring if every reply was "+1".

+1

[flere-imsaho]

I try not to rehash arguments that have been done to death and over again in unrelated threads.

Why not? You're totally missing out, man! :D

Plus, if you dont, no one would be able to use these smilies: :popcorn: :banghead: :deadhorse:

Think of the smilies! :D

[Galaxy]

Why not? You're totally missing out, man! :D

Plus, if you dont, no one would be able to use these smilies: :popcorn: :banghead: :deadhorse:

Think of the smilies! :D

:devil: :rant: :eek: :mad: :confused:

[Galaxy]

I can't believe this is the same person that we're talking about back in youth:

http://www.valvette.us/rique/images/bgates.jpg

[Galaxy]

Has Gates gone a little crazy since leaving Mircosoft?

FOXNews.com - Bill Gates Unleashes Swarm of Mosquitoes on Crowd - Science News | Science & Technology | Technology News (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,488348,00.html)

[dawgfan]

How soon before someone puts up a t-shirt design that says "I paid $5,000 to attend TED and all I got were these mosquito bites"?