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Microsoft's Paul Allen Funds ET Search

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the if-you-got-it-use-it dept.

Chris Gondek writes "Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, one of the richest men on Earth, today pledged to donate $US13.5 million ($17.99 million) for research into extra-terrestrial life. With the contribution, Allen will have given $US25 million ($33.32 million) for construction of the Allen Telescope Array (ATA), a network of 350 radio telescopes being built to find signs of life in space, said Thomas Pierson, director of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute."

7 of 314 comments (clear)

  1. Very Sneaky by SeaDour · · Score: 5, Funny

    This is obviously part of a grand scheme to transmit free copies of Microsoft Office to nearby star systems.

  2. ah... by Raagshinnah · · Score: 5, Funny
    ah so that's why all those UFOs have been crashing

    thank you, i'll be here all night

  3. Just... by Bishop,+Martin · · Score: 5, Informative

    A little interesting... What does SETI.org run?

    --
    Setec Astronomy
  4. Shrinking market by krray · · Score: 5, Funny
    Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, one of the richest men on Earth, today pledged to donate $US13.5 million ($17.99 million) for research into extra-terrestrial life.


    Of course -- Microsoft _needs_ to find new customers. We both know that...

  5. In spite of... by robslimo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The negative thoughts that many /.ers have for Microsoft in general and their top men in specific, Both Gates and Allen have long been active philanthropists. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation benefits "global health and learning" (directed by Bill Gates' father).

    As mentioned in the story, Paul Allen has been a SETI supportor and funded the ATA.

    I like to think that if I commanded that sort of wealth I would be as generous (as long as I'm dreaming, I'd be *more* generous).

  6. Re:and meanwhile.... by koreth · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Damn straight. And while we're at it, shut down that stupid Carnegie Endowment for the Arts -- how dare those arrogant rich blowhards pay someone to sit around doodling when there are hungry kids on the street? I mean, who cares if it's their money; what right do they have to say what it's spent on when there are obviously higher priorities out there?

  7. Should not say "Microsoft's Paul Allen" by angle_slam · · Score: 5, Informative
    For those who don't know, Paul Allen co-founded MSFT with Bill Gates back in 1975. He left the company in 1983 due to health reasons (Hodgkins Disease), though he kept much of his stock holdings and a seat on the Board of Directors. He later became a "Senior Strategy Advisor" to MSFT after he left the Board, though it is not clear that he still has that position with MSFT.

    While Paul Allen was an integral part of the formation of MSFT, he has had little say in the Windows era of the company and I don't think it is correct to say "Microsoft's Paul Allen".