Gates' Risky Business
Money may not buy happiness, but it can buy freedom. And for Bill Gates, having billions means the freedom to invest in wild ideas that may or may not work. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is known for its disciplined approach to investing. It researches the area and puts money where it will do most good. (I'd love for the Foundation to manage our massive federal stimulus program!) I don't think we can praise Bill enough for these works.
But Gates also likes to take a risk or two, and is funding programs that most others turned down. Examples include "a magnet that can detect malaria" and "giving mosquitoes a head cold to prevent them from detecting and biting humans."
Speaking of the Foundation, 20 minutes after finishing this item, I got an e-mail message in French from "The Bill Gates Foundation." I called upon all my high school French skills and was able to determine that I won 250,000 Euros from a Foundation lottery. Tres bien!
I have 48 hours to e-mail one of the lottery officials. His name? Robert Clary. Now, that name sounds familiar. Can anyone tell me who Robert Clary is and why he's famous? Or do you know nothing, nothing! Send your answers to [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on June 24, 2009