Jolie tops list of high-profile humanitarians
Reuters Dec 28, 07 10:45 AM CST
(Newser)
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From Angelina Jolie (nominated as a UN Goodwill Ambassador) to Madonna (the Malawian adoption controversy), these stars topped a Reuters poll that asked: Who gave the best—and worst—name to “celebrity humanitarianism” in 2007? The best: Angelina Jolie Bono Desmond Tutu Bill Gates Bill Clinton
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AIDS dollars distort fragile health systems, undermining basic care
Los Angeles Times Dec 16, 07 6:07 AM CST
(Newser)
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The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has given $8.5 billion to global health causes and is slowly defeating AIDS in Africa, but it’s creating unexpected new problems for the continent, the LA Times reports. By pouring money into the treatment of AIDS, TB and malaria, it has lured health care workers with higher pay, while basic health care has has suffered.
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Foundation aims to eradicate disease
Chicago Tribune Nov 27, 07 4:30 AM CST
(Newser)
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The world stands at the brink of eradicating polio, Bill Gates says, and his foundation yesterday awarded $100 million toward that end. One of the foundation's largest challenge grants will fund programs in four countries where the disease is still epidemic, notably Nigeria. The Rotary Foundation received the grant and will match it over the next 3 years, reports the Chicago Tribune .
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Report blasts myth of kids lagging in math, science, reading
BusinessWeek Oct 27, 07 5:37 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Despite dire warnings, US students rank well against worldwide peers in math, science, and reading, according to a new study. In fact US scores are rising, and students are graduating with more science and engineering diplomas than the US market can sustain. So why all of the hullabaloo about US kids in decline? Because of misinterpreted data, reports BusinessWeek .
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Software giant likely to butt heads with Cisco in lucrative market
Fortune Magazine Oct 17, 07 11:24 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Microsoft is famous for ever-more-complicated programs for ever-faster computers, and now it's taking aim at an overlooked piece of hardware: the phone. Yesterday, Bill Gates launched a line of software designed for office telephones that aims to make phone tag a thing of the past. It's a multi-billion-dollar sector, Fortune writes, but one in which rival Cisco is already well invested.
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You now need $1.3B
to make list of
richest Americans
Forbes Sep 21, 07 7:15 AM CDT
(Newser)
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In the 25th year of Forbes magazine's rankings of the 400 riches Americans, the net worth at the poor end of the list is $1.3 billion, up from a flat $1 billion a year ago. Microsoft founder Bill Gates still tops the list with $59 billion, closely followed by Warren Buffett ($52 million). Forty-five of the members appear on the list for the first time.
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Calls download practice efficient, not shifty
Seattle Post-Intelligencer Sep 14, 07 4:59 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Microsoft is reconsidering its updating practices after coming under fire for "silently"downloading a Windows patch—even for users who had opted for notifications. Microsoft defended itself, pointing out that the silent fixes affected the update software itself, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports. Skeptical opponents maintain similar situations in the past came with alerts.
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iPod maker replaces Microsoft as industry bully, monopolist
PC World Sep 7, 07 3:10 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Apple has replaced Microsoft as the tech industry’s “biggest bully,” according to PC World . The iPod dynamo has shed its rebel rep and assumed Microsoft’s former mantle as a monopolist, copycat, and bully. “Bundling,” a tactic Microsoft used to tie together Windows and Internet Explorer and thwart competition, is Apple’s game plan with the iPod and iTunes.
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As open document formats catch on, software giant meets resistance
New York Times Sep 5, 07 9:44 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Microsoft got a surprise smackdown from an international panel yesterday in its bid to have its open document format recognized as an international standard. The effort to certify Office Open XML met with resistance from 26% of the voting nations, and anything over 25% is a deal-breaker, the Times reports. Still, Microsoft predicts its format will eventually be adopted.
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Nerds grasp large-scale human suffering much better, Wired says
Wired Sep 1, 07 5:43 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Why is Bill Gates, “practically a social cripple,” going to save the world? Because of numbers, says Clive Thompson in Wired . More than most, the Microsoft maverick -- who spearheads tireless crusades against poverty and AIDS -- can comprehend large quantities, while research shows that most of us start losing count (or caring as much) after we tally about 8.
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Consumers may press case that 'Vista Capable' label was deceptive
Seattle Post-Intelligencer Aug 8, 07 6:00 PM CDT
(Newser)
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A federal judge has denied Microsoft's motion to dismiss a lawsuit alleging its "Vista Capable" campaign misled consumers, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports. Although PCs bearing "Vista Capable" stickers run the new OS, many can handle only the bare-bones Vista Home Basic system, which lacks highly touted features included in premium versions.
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Despite most volatile market ever, Microsoft chairman will bow out
New York Times Jul 30, 07 8:03 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Bill Gates says that, despite a surge in competition from all sides of the market, his phased exit from Microsoft has been bug-free so far. His two-year transition period halfway done, the chairman and former CEO says that his handpicked successors have been successfully picking up the slack. But doubters say Gates can't fully disengage at such a critical time.
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Mexican telecom
chief Carlos Slim beats Bill Gates as world's richest man
Guardian (UK) Jul 4, 07 7:11 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Move over, Bill Gates. The Microsoft founder, who has been the world's richest individual for a decade, has lost his lofty perch to a little-known Mexican telecom tycoon, Carlos Slim, the Guardian reports. His wealth has been estimated at $67.8 billion compared with $59.2 billion for Gates.
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UW center will eye effectiveness of giving
Wall Street Journal Jun 5, 07 4:59 AM CDT
(Newser)
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The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has given $105 million to the University of Washington to study the effectiveness of public health programs around the world. The money will be used to create a center to track such measures as child mortality, the prevalence of major diseases and the availability of medical treatment.
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Tech gods praise each other, discuss the PC guy from the Mac ads
San Francisco Chronicle May 31, 07 12:18 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Long-time rivals Bill Gates and Steve Jobs quipped and reminisced their way through their first joint public appearance in two decades at last night's D: All Things Digital conference in San Diego. The two tech kings ditched their traditional rivalry for a cozy, back-and-forth love fest. We've been "secretly married for 10 years," Jobs joked.
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