LONG BEACH, Calif. - "Bill Gates just released mosquitos into the audience at TED and said, 'Not only poor people should experience this.'"
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The event took place at the TED2009 (Technology, Entertainment and Design) conference on Wednesday in California, where Microsoft chairman Bill Gates was delivering a presentation about malaria education and eradication. Malaria is transmitted from person to person via mosquito bites
The mosquito incident was confirmed by the media office of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which also noted that the insects released were not carrying malaria.
There was a better way to fly it was called Concorde
Gordonsmall From UK - Scotland, joined Jun 2001, 1995 posts, RR: 24 Reply 2, posted (4 years 3 months 2 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 1702 times:
Quoting ShyFlyer (Reply 1): Well, he founded a company that frequently releases software with bugs, so I guess he shouldn't be surprised when his speeches are full of bugs too.
In all fairness, there isn't a software company on the planet than can claim to have released software which is bug free. Most software by the very nature of it's complexity is riddled with bugs.
In my previous life of being a software engineer I worked for a company which produced real-time control software for ciritical systems such as nuclear reactors and other automated systems and you would be suprised at the 'level of tolerance' for buggy software even in those sensitive environments.
Statistically, people who have had the most birthdays tend to live the longest.
UAXDXer From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 765 posts, RR: 3 Reply 4, posted (4 years 3 months 2 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 1662 times:
Quoting MadameConcorde (Thread starter): Bill Gates just released mosquitos into the audience at TED and said, 'Not only poor people should experience this.'"
Fear driven dramatic sensationalism..... Works for CNN, NBC, Fox, and MSNBC.. Why shouldn't it work for Bill Gates too?
It takes a bug to hit a windsheild but it takes guts to stick
Allrite From Australia, joined Aug 2007, 1409 posts, RR: 4 Reply 5, posted (4 years 3 months 2 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 1640 times:
Quoting ShyFlyer (Reply 1): Well, he founded a company that frequently releases software with bugs, so I guess he shouldn't be surprised when his speeches are full of bugs too.
I guess it's just another Windows 7 preview. This time the EULA must be signed in blood. Wonder if you can get Malaria through SharePoint... Better wear the Aerogard before using Microsoft products.
I wouldn't consider myself poor (well, maybe in relation to Bill Gates, but neither would I consider myself wealthy either) but I've certainly experienced my share of mozzies in my time! Is Seattle too cold for them?
MadameConcorde From San Marino, joined Feb 2007, 10241 posts, RR: 40 Reply 6, posted (4 years 3 months 2 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 1629 times:
Quoting Allrite (Reply 5): Better wear the Aerogard before using Microsoft products.
I don't buy into these new OS's.
I am quite happy with my XP Pro. I have no intention of changing as I find it quite stable and never had any trouble with it. I don't go for all the new 'gimmicky' stuff.
I only wish the constructors (Dell, etc.) would still put XP Pro on the new machines.
Unfortunately no more but I guess they have to follow whatever they are told to do.
There was a better way to fly it was called Concorde
N328KF From United States of America, joined May 2004, 6222 posts, RR: 3 Reply 7, posted (4 years 3 months 2 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 1559 times:
Quoting MadameConcorde (Reply 6): I am quite happy with my XP Pro. I have no intention of changing as I find it quite stable and never had any trouble with it. I don't go for all the new 'gimmicky' stuff.
I only wish the constructors (Dell, etc.) would still put XP Pro on the new machines.
Unfortunately no more but I guess they have to follow whatever they are told to do.
The problem that you run into is that XP is not really set up to support some of the advanced features of newer hardware.
Microsoft's problem is that they gave a crappy product in the process...
When they call the roll in the Senate, the Senators do not know whether to answer 'Present' or 'Not guilty.' T.Roosevelt
SOBHI51 From Saudi Arabia, joined Jun 2003, 3008 posts, RR: 17 Reply 8, posted (4 years 3 months 2 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 1521 times:
If my memory is still good,only female mosquito's bite.If so he might just have released only male ones.BTW it would have been a pain in the butt job choosing male mosquito's only.
RussianJet From Kazakhstan, joined Jul 2007, 6275 posts, RR: 23 Reply 11, posted (4 years 3 months 2 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 1449 times:
Quoting N328KF (Reply 10): You do understand that this man (and his wife) are principally responsible for the vastly-increased level of malaria research?
Yes. Could always do more though, and could certainly afford to.
N328KF From United States of America, joined May 2004, 6222 posts, RR: 3 Reply 12, posted (4 years 3 months 2 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 1437 times:
Quoting RussianJet (Reply 11): Yes. Could always do more though, and could certainly afford to
What do you do for malaria? Or for anyone besides yourself and your family? It's a rhetorical question.
I'm no fan of Bill Gates, but it seems silly to criticize the guy for not doing enough, when he already runs one of the largest charities in the world, and has stated that most of his wealth will also go to that charity.
When they call the roll in the Senate, the Senators do not know whether to answer 'Present' or 'Not guilty.' T.Roosevelt
MadameConcorde From San Marino, joined Feb 2007, 10241 posts, RR: 40 Reply 13, posted (4 years 3 months 2 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 1424 times:
Quoting RussianJet (Reply 9): It's time someone threw shoes at this guy....
I would have been tempted if I was in that room and had known about the mosquitos. I would have chosen something different to throw at him. A couple of tomatos are more unexpected and can do a better job than a shoe. The trouble is they would have most probably put me in a police vvan and right on the next flight back home with a ban to enter the U.S. for the rest of my life. No freedom of expression and messing are allowed with these top VIPs.
There was a better way to fly it was called Concorde
RussianJet From Kazakhstan, joined Jul 2007, 6275 posts, RR: 23 Reply 14, posted (4 years 3 months 2 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 1409 times:
Quoting N328KF (Reply 12): What do you do for malaria? Or for anyone besides yourself and your family? It's a rhetorical question.
It needn't be a rhetorical question. I give monthly donations to charities which, amongst their other activities in developing countries, are heavily involved in clean water projects. My mother, fpr example, also gives away 10% of her income to charity. Can't speak for the rest of the family. So, there's your answer. Also, seeing as neither of us are billionaires, we are also fairly busy trying to afford life at the moment. He could certainly give away more. Fine, he does more than many, and that's to be applauded - but he is filthy, filthy, filthy rich. He could certainly do more.
ShyFlyer From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 15, posted (4 years 3 months 2 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 1367 times:
Quoting Gordonsmall (Reply 2): there isn't a software company on the planet than can claim to have released software which is bug free.
Well, yeah, I realize that. I just like to poke fun at Micro$oft any chance I get, and this oportunity was just too good to pass up.
Quoting MadameConcorde (Reply 6): I only wish the constructors (Dell, etc.) would still put XP Pro on the new machines.
Dell still offers XP Pro on some of its machines. The Mini comes with XP Home. That's for the US though, don't know about other countries. Also, Windows XP Pro & Home OEM disks are still available from various retailers.
QFA380 From Australia, joined Jul 2005, 2025 posts, RR: 1 Reply 18, posted (4 years 3 months 2 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 1200 times:
Quoting RussianJet (Reply 14): but he is filthy, filthy, filthy rich. He could certainly do more.
Why don't you get on the case of some other people that are filthy filthy filthy rich. Your own Roman Abromovich could certainly be doing more. Does he really need a small navy worth of luxury vessels? Those billions could have been spent on malaria research!
You are attacking the biggest philanthropist in the world saying he could do more? Is it really all that wise to just give ALL his money now when through investments, it will be worth more later down the track.
You have no right to tell a man how to spend his hard earned fortune anyway, much less criticise him for giving it away.
Pyrex From Portugal, joined Aug 2005, 3537 posts, RR: 28 Reply 19, posted (4 years 3 months 2 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 1171 times:
Quoting QFA380 (Reply 18): Is it really all that wise to just give ALL his money now when through investments, it will be worth more later down the track.
Not to mention how would you spend it all in one go? Are there really tens of thousands of unemployed malaria researchers out there just waiting for some wealthy donors to show up or shall we start recruiting random joes off the street to do high-tech biotechnology research?
Read this very carefully, I shall write this only once!
N328KF From United States of America, joined May 2004, 6222 posts, RR: 3 Reply 20, posted (4 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 1102 times:
Let's not forget what Gates is trying to do here -- he's trying to, in a somewhat different mold, accomplish what HHMI does.
When they call the roll in the Senate, the Senators do not know whether to answer 'Present' or 'Not guilty.' T.Roosevelt
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