Writing Boots

I imagine Bill Gates is frustrated. He's one of the richest people in the world, but he doesn't have what he needs to solve AIDS and malaria in Africa single-handedly. He needs to recruit some of the other rich people he hangs out with, all of whom no doubt think it's great what you're doing in Africa, Bill.

He knows if he could unglaze some of those eyeballs, he could solve the problem.

And now the economy's going to shit, and it's harder than ever to get people to focus on something that's happening to poor people across an ocean.

So while speaking today to an elite audience at the exclusive TED conference in California, Gates unscrewed the lid off a glass bottle and said, "Malaria is spread by mosquitoes. I brought some. Here, let them roam
around. There is no reason only  poor people should be infected."

According to an account on USA Today's blog, "While he quickly reassured the group they were not carrying the
disease … the organizer of the conference said it
was an 'amazing moment' that provided the crowd with 'food for thought.'"

The last time I had an "amazing moment" like that, they had to clean it up with a flat shovel.

Ballsy, Bill.

As a follow-up to yesterday’s conversation, I give over to another Murray—Miss Anne Murray, from 1983.

Which of the three following attitudes best sums up your attitude toward the downturn, recession, depression, oh my:

A. The laid-off temp who says she can make a planned happy hour for a company's downsizees: "I could bike on over i suppose. i'm sure i will still be unemployed and have all the free time in the world. in fact, by feb 17th i might be less than 2 weeks from moving back in with my parents …"

B. Two Baby Boomers who were talking the other day, one saying to the other, "Welcome to the world of our fathers, who didn't do what they wanted in life, they did whatever provided a living."

C. My wife, who believes if the media (and the husband) would only stop talking 24/7 about the economic calamity, the calamity might not be such a calamity.

D. No, all these people are nuts. Here's how you ought to think about it ….