Friday
Bill Gates issues apology for patronizing Paper Clip on Word
Nerdy Multi-millionaire Bill Gates today issued a heart-felt and sincere apology on behalf of the paper-clip which is the bane of every office workers life.
The bespeckled rich man said: "I apologise from the very bottom of my heart for the paperclip, Links the Cat, the dog who no-one uses, the spinning world, and the knackered old Wizard. They all seemed like such a good idea at the time, but now I know just how wrong and misguided I was to use them all those years ago."
He went on to say: "I now also fully realise how irritating it is to have the bleeding obvious pointed out to you. When I thought people would be using my computer, I thought asking them if they needed help to write a letter was a good thing, but obviously I was wrong then as well. My next programme for Computers will be user friendly. I have listened to what people want, and my newest project is the EXO10 Computer. It may look like an old mobile phone, but it will do things no-one else has ever thought of before."
He said cackling, holding a monocle to his eye, and stroking a white cat.
The bespeckled rich man said: "I apologise from the very bottom of my heart for the paperclip, Links the Cat, the dog who no-one uses, the spinning world, and the knackered old Wizard. They all seemed like such a good idea at the time, but now I know just how wrong and misguided I was to use them all those years ago."
He went on to say: "I now also fully realise how irritating it is to have the bleeding obvious pointed out to you. When I thought people would be using my computer, I thought asking them if they needed help to write a letter was a good thing, but obviously I was wrong then as well. My next programme for Computers will be user friendly. I have listened to what people want, and my newest project is the EXO10 Computer. It may look like an old mobile phone, but it will do things no-one else has ever thought of before."
He said cackling, holding a monocle to his eye, and stroking a white cat.
Labels: Bill Gates issues apology for patronizing Paper Clip on Word
Mexican Billionaire Donates Laptops
MEXICO CITY — Billionaire Carlos Slim said he doesn't care if he is the world's richest man and promised to donate hundreds of thousands of laptop computers to Mexican children.
The Mexican telecom mogul pledged Thursday to donate 250,000 low-cost laptops to children by the end of the year and as many as 1 million in 2008, saying "digital education" holds the key for Mexico's poor.
Slim is listed by Forbes as the world's second-richest man with holdings worth US$53 billion (euro38.79 billion), but some financial analysts say he may have overtaken Microsoft founder Bill Gates as the world's richest.
Speaking to foreign correspondents on Thursday, Slim said the ranking meant little to him.
"That's water off a duck's back to me," Slim said. "I don't know if that (the ranking) is correct, if I'm first, 20th, or 2,000th. It doesn't matter. It's all the same."
"I think that what's important is to see that a professional or business activity isn't incompatible with personal or family life," he said.
He also expressed no interest in competing with Gates in philanthropy, saying he hoped their efforts would "complement each other." The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has channeled its efforts into reducing hunger and fighting disease in developing countries.
Slim said he wants to focus on building specialized preschools, handing out computers and supporting health care.
He said he would devote about US$70 million (euro51 million) this year to the low-cost laptop program. With an estimated cost of US$250 (euro183) to US$300 (euro220) per machine, Slim would have to devote US$300 million (euro220 million) to reach a goal of 1 million per year. He predicted, however, that costs for the machines would fall further.
Slim, who controls Mexico's largest fixed-line telephone company, Telefonos de Mexico, or Telmex, said the plan would initially put the laptops in libraries and schools, which would eventually give them outright to students.
"The scheme in public libraries would be for them to lend them out, like books," he said, noting his companies would help set up wireless networks for the machines to connect.
He said that within four years, he wants to build about 100 "early stimulation" preschools to give poor children training at a young age in math, language and computers.
He said the world economy is experiencing "a stage of world euphoria" of easy credit, and that Latin America should take advantage of that to invest in infrastructure.
Slim said there is no conflict between his role as businessman _ in which he has been criticized for holding a near-monopoly control over the telephone market _ and philanthropist.
"The best investment one can make is to reduce poverty," he said, noting that wealthier citizens are better consumers.
The Mexican telecom mogul pledged Thursday to donate 250,000 low-cost laptops to children by the end of the year and as many as 1 million in 2008, saying "digital education" holds the key for Mexico's poor.
Slim is listed by Forbes as the world's second-richest man with holdings worth US$53 billion (euro38.79 billion), but some financial analysts say he may have overtaken Microsoft founder Bill Gates as the world's richest.
Speaking to foreign correspondents on Thursday, Slim said the ranking meant little to him.
"That's water off a duck's back to me," Slim said. "I don't know if that (the ranking) is correct, if I'm first, 20th, or 2,000th. It doesn't matter. It's all the same."
"I think that what's important is to see that a professional or business activity isn't incompatible with personal or family life," he said.
He also expressed no interest in competing with Gates in philanthropy, saying he hoped their efforts would "complement each other." The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has channeled its efforts into reducing hunger and fighting disease in developing countries.
Slim said he wants to focus on building specialized preschools, handing out computers and supporting health care.
He said he would devote about US$70 million (euro51 million) this year to the low-cost laptop program. With an estimated cost of US$250 (euro183) to US$300 (euro220) per machine, Slim would have to devote US$300 million (euro220 million) to reach a goal of 1 million per year. He predicted, however, that costs for the machines would fall further.
Slim, who controls Mexico's largest fixed-line telephone company, Telefonos de Mexico, or Telmex, said the plan would initially put the laptops in libraries and schools, which would eventually give them outright to students.
"The scheme in public libraries would be for them to lend them out, like books," he said, noting his companies would help set up wireless networks for the machines to connect.
He said that within four years, he wants to build about 100 "early stimulation" preschools to give poor children training at a young age in math, language and computers.
He said the world economy is experiencing "a stage of world euphoria" of easy credit, and that Latin America should take advantage of that to invest in infrastructure.
Slim said there is no conflict between his role as businessman _ in which he has been criticized for holding a near-monopoly control over the telephone market _ and philanthropist.
"The best investment one can make is to reduce poverty," he said, noting that wealthier citizens are better consumers.
Billionaire Paul Allen resigns from DreamWorks
GLENDALE - Billionaire Paul Allen has decided to sell about 10 million of his shares in DreamWorks Animation SKG and resign from the board of directors, the company says.
Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft, will sell his shares in a registered public offering underwritten by Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., according to a DreamWorks statement.
About 5 million of those shares, worth approximately $150 million, will be bought by DreamWorks Animation pursuant to a board decision to expand the company's share repurchase program, the statement said.
"There would be no DreamWorks without Paul Allen," said Dream Works Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg. "I want to thank him for all he has done for DreamWorks Animation as a board member and as a shareholder. Paul has been and will continue to be a strong supporter and advisor for our company."
Allen, who helped bankroll the company in its infancy, will generate about $500 million for himself through the stock sale but remain one of DreamWorks Animation's principle stakeholders, with about 6 million shares.
Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft, will sell his shares in a registered public offering underwritten by Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., according to a DreamWorks statement.
About 5 million of those shares, worth approximately $150 million, will be bought by DreamWorks Animation pursuant to a board decision to expand the company's share repurchase program, the statement said.
"There would be no DreamWorks without Paul Allen," said Dream Works Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg. "I want to thank him for all he has done for DreamWorks Animation as a board member and as a shareholder. Paul has been and will continue to be a strong supporter and advisor for our company."
Allen, who helped bankroll the company in its infancy, will generate about $500 million for himself through the stock sale but remain one of DreamWorks Animation's principle stakeholders, with about 6 million shares.
Billionaire inventors
"To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk." So said Thomas Edison, inventor of so many things we take for granted today and the archetypical American entrepreneur-inventor.
Edison became a rich man thanks to his imagination's ability to transform "piles of junk" into products and businesses that didn't previously exist. Today's more knowledge-based world may demand less physical junk and more service ideas as invention's starting point, but these 10 billionaire inventors are worthy heirs to Edison's tradition.
In pictures:
Billionaire inventors
The world's billionaires
Only five of our list are Americans; there is no national patent on inventiveness. Others come from as far a field as Thailand and Germany. But America provides more fruitful soil than most places for nursing a smart, original idea into a fortune.
There is little else that unites them, beyond having had an odd idea that in retrospect seems so simple and obvious, provoking the universal reaction, "Why on earth didn't I think of that?"
Take Brad Hughes: The former real estate executive thought of putting up a bunch of lockers off a highway somewhere, where people could keep stuff. Hughes Public Storage is now the largest self-storage company in the U.S. and has made Hughes a fortune we value at $5.3 billion.
In pictures:
The youngest billionaires
Billionaire bachelors
Or Jeff Bezos: He dreamed up the ides of selling books over the Internet. Cutting out the need for inventory, as well as the tactile but costly pleasure (for a bookseller) of browsing the aisles, cut costs so Bezos could sell at a discount. Turned out that bookworms were as price-conscious and lazy as the next person and more than happy to order from their computer. The $4.4 billion fortune Bezos made from Amazon.com lets him now pursue his passion for space travel.
Bezos solved a problem many didn't know they had. Michele Ferrero, matriarch of the family that is one of Europe's largest chocolate makers, also solved an unrealized problem--the lack of a spreadable breakfast chocolate. Combining chocolate and hazelnuts proved to be the answer. Nutella has joined a roster of Ferrero brands, including Ferrero Rocher, Tic Tac and Kinder Eggs, that is the basis of the family's $10 billion fortune.
Slideshows:
Fallen billionaires
Richest people you've never heard of
On the other hand, James Dyson, the eponymous inventor of the yellow and transparent vacuum cleaner, was seeking to solve a well-known problem: the fuller a vacuum cleaner got, the less efficiently it worked as the bag containing the sucked-up dirt obstructed the suction.
Dyson, a Brit who had gone to art school to study design and engineering, ran through 5,127 prototypes until he perfected an upright vacuum that used spinning technology to maintain constant suction. He introduced his vacuum in the U.K. in 1993, and it was an immediate hit, setting him on the way to a $1.6 billion fortune.
The inventor has announced plans to open the Dyson School of Design & Innovation in 2008. Perhaps it should put over its door some other words from Thomas Edison: "Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work."
Edison became a rich man thanks to his imagination's ability to transform "piles of junk" into products and businesses that didn't previously exist. Today's more knowledge-based world may demand less physical junk and more service ideas as invention's starting point, but these 10 billionaire inventors are worthy heirs to Edison's tradition.
In pictures:
Billionaire inventors
The world's billionaires
Only five of our list are Americans; there is no national patent on inventiveness. Others come from as far a field as Thailand and Germany. But America provides more fruitful soil than most places for nursing a smart, original idea into a fortune.
There is little else that unites them, beyond having had an odd idea that in retrospect seems so simple and obvious, provoking the universal reaction, "Why on earth didn't I think of that?"
Take Brad Hughes: The former real estate executive thought of putting up a bunch of lockers off a highway somewhere, where people could keep stuff. Hughes Public Storage is now the largest self-storage company in the U.S. and has made Hughes a fortune we value at $5.3 billion.
In pictures:
The youngest billionaires
Billionaire bachelors
Or Jeff Bezos: He dreamed up the ides of selling books over the Internet. Cutting out the need for inventory, as well as the tactile but costly pleasure (for a bookseller) of browsing the aisles, cut costs so Bezos could sell at a discount. Turned out that bookworms were as price-conscious and lazy as the next person and more than happy to order from their computer. The $4.4 billion fortune Bezos made from Amazon.com lets him now pursue his passion for space travel.
Bezos solved a problem many didn't know they had. Michele Ferrero, matriarch of the family that is one of Europe's largest chocolate makers, also solved an unrealized problem--the lack of a spreadable breakfast chocolate. Combining chocolate and hazelnuts proved to be the answer. Nutella has joined a roster of Ferrero brands, including Ferrero Rocher, Tic Tac and Kinder Eggs, that is the basis of the family's $10 billion fortune.
Slideshows:
Fallen billionaires
Richest people you've never heard of
On the other hand, James Dyson, the eponymous inventor of the yellow and transparent vacuum cleaner, was seeking to solve a well-known problem: the fuller a vacuum cleaner got, the less efficiently it worked as the bag containing the sucked-up dirt obstructed the suction.
Dyson, a Brit who had gone to art school to study design and engineering, ran through 5,127 prototypes until he perfected an upright vacuum that used spinning technology to maintain constant suction. He introduced his vacuum in the U.K. in 1993, and it was an immediate hit, setting him on the way to a $1.6 billion fortune.
The inventor has announced plans to open the Dyson School of Design & Innovation in 2008. Perhaps it should put over its door some other words from Thomas Edison: "Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work."
Labels: Billionaire inventors
Billionaire threatened Canucks bidder with lawsuit
Reclusive billionaire John McCaw admitted on the witness stand today that he threatened to sue one of the bidders for the Vancouver Canucks after an article was published in The Vancouver Sun that quoted the bidder saying he and his bid partner Tom Gaglardi had been "shafted and screwed."
McCaw recalled having a conversation with Ryan Beedie after The Sun article was published on Nov. 19, 2004, in which Beedie accused the Canucks owner of "double-dealing behind our backs, working on something with Francesco [Aquilini]."
He recalled Beedie threatened litigation during the phone call.
"I said, 'If you sue us, I'll sue you,'" McCaw testified in Vancouver before B.C. Supreme Court Justice Catherine Wedge.
After finishing his testimony today, McCaw had two decoy limousines and drivers waiting in the underground parking lot at the Vancouver Law Courts.
He managed to get into an elevator and elude media cameras by slipping out the front door of the courthouse with his handlers and climb into the back of a black Ford Expedition.
The trial is adjourned until Monday, when the defendants plan to call two key Canucks employees to testify - Victor de Bonis, the chief financial officer, will begin Monday, followed by General Manager Dave Nonis, who is expected Tuesday.
The focus of the civil trial has been how Gaglardi, Beedie and Aquilini came together in November 2003 to make an offer to buy half the Canucks from McCaw, as well as GM Place arena, for $250 million.
In February 2004, Aquilini dropped out of the joint bid. His former partners allege that as they continued talks to purchase the Canucks, McCaw, in bad faith, encouraged Aquilini to submit a rival bid.
The successful bidder, the Acquilini Investment Group, now is being sued by Gaglardi and Beedie.
McCaw and Aquilini, however, say they did nothing wrong. McCaw and Aquilini shook hands outside the courtroom before McCaw left the building.
McCaw recalled having a conversation with Ryan Beedie after The Sun article was published on Nov. 19, 2004, in which Beedie accused the Canucks owner of "double-dealing behind our backs, working on something with Francesco [Aquilini]."
He recalled Beedie threatened litigation during the phone call.
"I said, 'If you sue us, I'll sue you,'" McCaw testified in Vancouver before B.C. Supreme Court Justice Catherine Wedge.
After finishing his testimony today, McCaw had two decoy limousines and drivers waiting in the underground parking lot at the Vancouver Law Courts.
He managed to get into an elevator and elude media cameras by slipping out the front door of the courthouse with his handlers and climb into the back of a black Ford Expedition.
The trial is adjourned until Monday, when the defendants plan to call two key Canucks employees to testify - Victor de Bonis, the chief financial officer, will begin Monday, followed by General Manager Dave Nonis, who is expected Tuesday.
The focus of the civil trial has been how Gaglardi, Beedie and Aquilini came together in November 2003 to make an offer to buy half the Canucks from McCaw, as well as GM Place arena, for $250 million.
In February 2004, Aquilini dropped out of the joint bid. His former partners allege that as they continued talks to purchase the Canucks, McCaw, in bad faith, encouraged Aquilini to submit a rival bid.
The successful bidder, the Acquilini Investment Group, now is being sued by Gaglardi and Beedie.
McCaw and Aquilini, however, say they did nothing wrong. McCaw and Aquilini shook hands outside the courtroom before McCaw left the building.
Monday
Sugar Daddy Dating - Top Five Tricks: How to Reel Them In
Men have shared with us here at Sugar Daddy Babes what gets them attracted to a girl's profile. Read on to see their tips and suggestions on how to really work it online.
1. Never Reveal Too Much
You aren't an open book, and you don't need to be. Sometimes the best way to attract your Sugar Daddies is to keep them guessing. A little mystery goes a long way, so flirt and keep a few things to yourself. When you're getting to know your man, you will have more to reveal and to discuss if you kept a secret or two in the beginning.
Our Hint:
One perfect way to get a guy interested without revealing too much starts at your username. Guys want something that shows a little personality — not a random grouping of numbers and letters. Use a cute nickname or clever saying for a little added personality. Avoid anything too romantic or cheesy, though, like "Looking4Romeo" or "ImJuliet". Men find that to be too much!
2. Photo Tips and Hints
Your picture may be the first thing that guys look at, so try your best to keep it as intriguing as possible. Try to keep the photo at a reasonable size for viewing - not teeny-tiny and not screen-sized - but something that you expect from your potential suitors as well.
Before you know your Sugar Daddy well, it's important to keep things tasteful. Some men—particularly older ones - are keen on finding a girl with class. Save your wild side for later. Most older men aren't interested in someone who seems to be an exhibitionist at first glance, but someone who intrigues them. Choose one photo that highlights what's right but keep things as nice as you can. It's often more alluring than the real thing - so keep them guessing.
What if you're not comfortable posting your photo? That's okay, too. You will simply need to make up for the lack of a photo with personality and a truly interesting profile. When you get to know one guy well, you may feel more comfortable sharing your photos.
General hints and tips:
• High quality photos in a substantial size will send the message that there's nothing to hide, and you're totally comfortable with yourself.
• Don't have you photo look too "posed". It's always better to look comfortable and as though you're having a good time, not that you are super serious or boring.
• Avoid photos in a bikini, thong, or low-cut shirt. It's probably not going to send the right image to your man, so save them for later!
3. Keep Your Self-Confidence High
When you are looking for your own Sugar Daddy, consider yourself your own publicist. It's easier to find a partner if you really feel good about yourself. If there are some aspects about yourself that you may feel uncomfortable or insecure about, don't lie — just go for a positive slant.
Our Hint:
Nothing is sexier to your Sugar Daddy than good old confidence. If you're between jobs, don't consider yourself unemployed or (even worse) unemployable. Think of answers that make you feel good about yourself but that aren't far from the truth. They will add to your appeal.
4. The Juggling Scheme: Keeping
Balanced Men love a woman with interests. In the search for your Sugar Daddy, don't forget about the personal interests that make you stand out in a crowd. Work on your photography, cooking, or language skills — just don't forget about what makes you tick!
Sugar Daddies want a cultured woman, someone with skills to set her apart from the crowd. You may not think that your interests are special, but it's essential to mention what's important to you, be it modern dancing, politics, fashion, art, sports, or literature. You will add a little mystery to yourself and give your Sugar Daddy something to remember you by.
5. When to Back Off
Sugar Daddies can be busy men, so sometimes it can be to your advantage to give him a little space. Don't overwhelm your potential partners with too many messages or pouncing as soon as he's online. While it's important to maintain interest, you don't want to scare anyone away, either. Maintain your cool to keep him coming back. If you play your cards right, he will.
No matter how successful you are in attracting your Sugar Daddy, it's best to stay reasonable. Narrow down your potential Sugar Daddies down to a key few, because if you try to correspond with too many at once, you will end up sounding strained. You run the risk of sounding uninterested — or the least intriguing of the bunch. You've got to attract your Sugar Daddy the best you can, and following our tips can definitely help you out.
1. Never Reveal Too Much
You aren't an open book, and you don't need to be. Sometimes the best way to attract your Sugar Daddies is to keep them guessing. A little mystery goes a long way, so flirt and keep a few things to yourself. When you're getting to know your man, you will have more to reveal and to discuss if you kept a secret or two in the beginning.
Our Hint:
One perfect way to get a guy interested without revealing too much starts at your username. Guys want something that shows a little personality — not a random grouping of numbers and letters. Use a cute nickname or clever saying for a little added personality. Avoid anything too romantic or cheesy, though, like "Looking4Romeo" or "ImJuliet". Men find that to be too much!
2. Photo Tips and Hints
Your picture may be the first thing that guys look at, so try your best to keep it as intriguing as possible. Try to keep the photo at a reasonable size for viewing - not teeny-tiny and not screen-sized - but something that you expect from your potential suitors as well.
Before you know your Sugar Daddy well, it's important to keep things tasteful. Some men—particularly older ones - are keen on finding a girl with class. Save your wild side for later. Most older men aren't interested in someone who seems to be an exhibitionist at first glance, but someone who intrigues them. Choose one photo that highlights what's right but keep things as nice as you can. It's often more alluring than the real thing - so keep them guessing.
What if you're not comfortable posting your photo? That's okay, too. You will simply need to make up for the lack of a photo with personality and a truly interesting profile. When you get to know one guy well, you may feel more comfortable sharing your photos.
General hints and tips:
• High quality photos in a substantial size will send the message that there's nothing to hide, and you're totally comfortable with yourself.
• Don't have you photo look too "posed". It's always better to look comfortable and as though you're having a good time, not that you are super serious or boring.
• Avoid photos in a bikini, thong, or low-cut shirt. It's probably not going to send the right image to your man, so save them for later!
3. Keep Your Self-Confidence High
When you are looking for your own Sugar Daddy, consider yourself your own publicist. It's easier to find a partner if you really feel good about yourself. If there are some aspects about yourself that you may feel uncomfortable or insecure about, don't lie — just go for a positive slant.
Our Hint:
Nothing is sexier to your Sugar Daddy than good old confidence. If you're between jobs, don't consider yourself unemployed or (even worse) unemployable. Think of answers that make you feel good about yourself but that aren't far from the truth. They will add to your appeal.
4. The Juggling Scheme: Keeping
Balanced Men love a woman with interests. In the search for your Sugar Daddy, don't forget about the personal interests that make you stand out in a crowd. Work on your photography, cooking, or language skills — just don't forget about what makes you tick!
Sugar Daddies want a cultured woman, someone with skills to set her apart from the crowd. You may not think that your interests are special, but it's essential to mention what's important to you, be it modern dancing, politics, fashion, art, sports, or literature. You will add a little mystery to yourself and give your Sugar Daddy something to remember you by.
5. When to Back Off
Sugar Daddies can be busy men, so sometimes it can be to your advantage to give him a little space. Don't overwhelm your potential partners with too many messages or pouncing as soon as he's online. While it's important to maintain interest, you don't want to scare anyone away, either. Maintain your cool to keep him coming back. If you play your cards right, he will.
No matter how successful you are in attracting your Sugar Daddy, it's best to stay reasonable. Narrow down your potential Sugar Daddies down to a key few, because if you try to correspond with too many at once, you will end up sounding strained. You run the risk of sounding uninterested — or the least intriguing of the bunch. You've got to attract your Sugar Daddy the best you can, and following our tips can definitely help you out.
Labels: Sugar Daddy Dating - Top Five Tricks: How to Reel Them In
