I would consider a 24 billion dollar endowment to aid in charities such as health care improvement in 3rd world countries and improvement in our countries libraries and inner city schools to be a very very good thing. Bill Gates will have given away most of his money by the time he dies. His children and family will see very little of the fortune that he has earned. You may not agree with his business model, or like the OS that his company makes. But you cannot say he has never done a good thing as he is one of the top philanthropists of all time.

"The foundation was created in January 2000, through the merger of the Gates Learning Foundation, which worked to expand access to technology through public libraries, and the William H. Gates Foundation, which focused on improving global health. Led by Bill Gates’ father, William H. Gates, Sr., and Patty Stonesifer, the Seattle-based foundation has an endowment of approximately $24 billion through the personal generosity of Bill and Melinda Gates."

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/default.htm


On the topic of SPAM. I would venture to guess that we will be seeing some very large companies joining MS in their struggle to end SPAM.