Call the Apple Store and Get Bill and Melinda Gates

oosid writes "The area code in Seattle is (206). Right across Lake Washington in Bellevue the area code is (425). If you're trying to reach the new Apple Store in Bellevue from Seattle, don't forget to dial the area code or you'll find yourself talking to the reception desk at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The 7 digit number, coincidentally, is the same for both places. If you make the mistake I'm sure that the Foundation will be able to suggest some solutions to all of your Apple problems."

Comments

This is a front page story ...

[recursiv]

There was a coincidence involving a phone number for an Apple store and some foundation involving Bill Gates, the name most associated with Microsoft, Slashdot's favorite target to blame for the ills of the world.

What's the discussion? Does this matter? To anyone? At all?

Please don't harass the Gates Foundation.

[Anonymous Coward]

Just because it's funded by Bill G doesn't mean that the people working there deserve to get a phone call from you inquiring about Apple products.

They're a charitable organisation for crying out loud. It's not much different from harassing the local hospital - the less time and money they waste, the better.

That's not fair.

[thatguywhoiam]

It literally isn't costing Bill anything to buy your admiration here. So he goes out back and shovels a load of thousand dollar bills into a wheelbarrow and gives them to charity in a box with his return address on it. Call me when he gives until it at least itches, ok.

Just... hold on a second. Listen, I used to think exactly that same way, and there's obvious tax advantages, etc. in what Gates does with his charity work.

Having said that, did you happen to catch the recent Salon article about the Gates Foundation? The man is planning to give away 98% of his wealth. Just ponder that a moment.

You can yell about Microsoft's business practices all you want - and I'll agree with practically every nasty thing spoken about them - but Bill is a different story. When I read about Bill Gates, I don't agree with a lot of what he has to say about technology, but he is a man who has clearly understood that his position in the world is unique. He speaks quite a bit about poverty in the 3rd world and particularly about hunger and disease control. He is probably already the single biggest money donator in history in terms of pure monetary value.

Now, as I understand it, the physical limit of wealth is somewhere around a hundred million dollars. That's literally the breaking point where, short of creating orbiting death platforms or underwater citites, you cannot spend more money and see a difference in your lifestyle. Perhaps Bill recognizes this and has decided to put the rest in places where its needed most. Perhaps, this merits a little better mention than "call me when he gives until it at least itches". I hate sounding so preachy, I'm sorry about that, but it bears mentioning. Look into the Gates Foundation, you'd be really surprised. I was.

Re:That's not fair.

[GlassHeart]

someone that powerful is going to be surrounded by people who reinforce whatever he believes. It is very hard for someone in power to get honest feedback from anyone.

That's still his fault. If he can't manage to surround himself with honest people who will not be afraid to contradict him, then he needs to take full responsibility for it. We're not talking about people falsely complimenting his golf game. We're talking about potentially illegal business deals here!

This is not to say Bill Gates is a bad person. When somebody donates billions to charity, I would rather not second guess his motives. However, to extrapolate that into believing that he's not responsible for his company's dealings is just silly.

Re:That's not fair.

[naelurec]

Well lets see .. He gives away 98% of his wealth .. currently worth around $45 billion ... that leaves around $900 million..

First off .. man .. if I could say 2% of my wealth was almost $1 billion .. that would be sweeeet.

But second, it truly is a situation of "what am I *REALLY* going to do with 44 billion dollars?" -- With that 900 million or so .. even if he didn't earn a penny off of it for the rest of his life (lets say 55 more years), he could spend $16 million a year, each year -- about $44k per day.

I dunno .. even if I was living on a grand scale, I think I'd find it hard to spend $44k a day, each day. Granted, I know for a fact that this is absolutely not going to be the case ($900 million .. do some poor investing, make 7% or so .. generate ~44 million per year after capital gains..) -- $120k per day.

So whats the motivation? It seems pretty simple to me. There are the three motivators --> wealth, power and prestige.

He has been pretty successful with the first two -- wealthiest man in the world and a significant amount of power .. but what about prestige?

I'd have to argue that outside of perhaps the Microsoft fan-boys (shareholders, MCSEs, MS employees, etc..) there is not a lot of prestige. People seem to dislike Gates for his money and power. People poopoo the products, security issues, etc..etc.. (not that I am saying this isn't justified)

So what would someone that already has proven himself to have power & wealth really want? Prestige. Prestige to the likes of Andrew Carnegie (who seems to be perhaps a role model for Gates) who went beyond the steel industry and was able to achieve to a high degree the 3 goals of wealth, power and prestige.

From what I have read about the Gates Foundation, it truly does seem to be a noble cause that is not some type of marketing scheme (now Microsoft's own personal persuits of umm.. charity leave much to be desired..) I'll be interested to see where the Gates foundation is in 10 to 15 years from now. Given Gate's current selling pattern of Microsoft stock over the next 8 or so years, I'd expect to see a LOT of his wealth go toward the foundation, assuming of course, he is truly motivated to do what he claims. :)

Re:My Conversation

[Anonymous Coward]

Can I assume that this is another one of those conversations with your imaginary friend, or did you actually pay money for a long-distance call to try to harass a charitable organization?