All projects: Gel, Jobs, Gootodo, Games, Uncle Mark, Goovite, Blog, Bit Literacy
Hats off to Bill Gates
Jun 23, 2006
David Pogue gets it exactly right about Bill Gates. His software isn't that great, and neither is the way he often did business to sell it; but I respect and admire the work he's doing now.
Pogue's entire column is a delight to read, but here's an excerpt:
It'd be one thing if he were retiring to enjoy his fortune, or if he were using it to buy football teams or political candidates. But he's not. He's channeling those billions to the places in the world where that money can do the most good. And not just throwing money at the problems, either - he's also dedicating the second act of his life to making sure it's done right.
I have some ties to the foundation/nonprofit world, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has a very good reputation - it's well-run and is having an impact on the world.
I'd only add one thought to what Pogue said: it's too bad that the foundation money came from selling software that didn't make users nearly as productive as they could have been. (More thoughts on productivity here.) Nevertheless, as I said, I admire Gates for what he's doing now and wish him great success with it. We all should.
Would it be extraordinarily cynical to say that his foundation is also a brilliant PR exercise? With his track record, I don't think this is far wrong. Or is it that he is a saint and the MS business methods were imposed by his evil executives?
Kudos to Bill And Warren.
What a gift!!!
I am the type of guy that gives a bum my last five dollars and I cant pay rent. I am happy that some people have the business sense to be on top and when they are there do something so wonderful it brings tears to my eyes. The amount of relief that they bring to sufering, pain, starvation and education is an incredible and incredulous gift. The commitment that the gates foundation has and the investment resources in preserving the help throughout the world is a pressing need. The fact that they are happy with their success and not seeing past their own demise and trying to leave a better world is where every human being should be.
And thats all I have to say about that!