TED, the annual gathering of the most pretentious people from the fields of technology, entertainment, and design, just got punk'd. Microsoft chairman Bill Gates released a swarm of mosquitos into the crowd.
Ending malaria is a particular passion of Gates's, whose Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has spent millions fighting the disease. But he apparently didn't feel like TED attendees were taking the threat seriously. "Not only poor people should experience this," Gates said as he let the bugs loose on his audience, according to Facebook manager Dave Morin. (eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and Twitter CEO Ev Williams confirm the report.)
A showman's way of making a point, perhaps. But it doesn't do much to undo Gates's reputation, borne out of the Microsoft antitrust investigations of the 1990s, that the man considers himself above the law. Doesn't California's Health and Safety Code have something to say about insect infestations?
Apparently, if you are one of the richest people in the world, you can do whatever you like without consequences, not that I disagree with his action. It is an interesting way to get people to pay attention to his cause. However, I hope nobody decides to try to attract more attention for the genocide in Darfur using his method.
"you can do whatever you like without consequences" yeah and MOST of "whatever he likes" has consisted of him donating more money for charitable causes than any other man/woman on earth.
A bunch of the elite got bit by a fucking mosquito.. big fucking deal.
On February 06 2009 03:03 {88}iNcontroL wrote: "you can do whatever you like without consequences" yeah and MOST of "whatever he likes" has consisted of him donating more money for charitable causes than any other man/woman on earth.
A bunch of the elite got bit by a fucking mosquito.. big fucking deal.
I didn't mean to make it sound like I disagreed with his stunt. I thought that it was novel and humorous.
is this true...? This is kind of unbelievable, I didn't hear anything about this on the news... Can you post a source link other than digg.com. Preferably a news site...
On February 06 2009 03:05 1a2a3aGG wrote: is this true...? This is kind of unbelievable, I didn't hear anything about this on the news... Can you post a source link other than digg.com. Preferably a news site...
On February 06 2009 03:05 1a2a3aGG wrote: is this true...? This is kind of unbelievable, I didn't hear anything about this on the news... Can you post a source link other than digg.com. Preferably a news site...
haha I LOL'd too, I mean if I was a billionaire I cant say I wouldn't do this type of stuff too...
Its not like he cant hire the best lawyer in the world and get out of anything he wants too... Kind of shocking, I dont think I've heard of him doing anything crazy like this before...
Next are the locusts, and then Bill Gates will come into our homes in the dead of night as steal away with our firstborn sons.
Still, way to make a point. I think there are worse things than malaria to worry about in the world, does that mean I deserve to get swarmed by mosquitoes?
On February 06 2009 03:26 Juicyfruit wrote: I"m going out and buying an xbox 360 because of this. LOL AWESOME.
Imagine what he"d be showering the crowds with if the topic was AIDS.
"oh by the way everyone, if anyone felt a pinprick as you sat down, 1/20th of you have been randomly selected by where you sat to be infected with aids... Sucks to be a statistic doesn't it"?
On February 06 2009 02:59 ghostWriter wrote: Apparently, if you are one of the richest people in the world, you can do whatever you like without consequences, not that I disagree with his action. It is an interesting way to get people to pay attention to his cause. However, I hope nobody decides to try to attract more attention for the genocide in Darfur using his method.
On February 06 2009 03:45 Chill wrote: I wonder at what point it's some form of assault. Releasing fire ants? Releasing ravens to peck at people? Releasing dogs?
Kangaroo's with boxing gloves, that's where I draw the line.
On February 06 2009 03:42 MuR)Ernu wrote: hah its kinda epic. Since most of the people there were like richasses too right?
If it was just some random normal, poor people, it would have been just duh
Most are pretty well off, these are highly respected people in their fields. TED brings in professors, business entrepreneurs, scientists, community organizers, etc. Basically anything and every type of field is supposed to be represented at one point or another.
http://www.ted.com/ You can watch all the talks here. Bill Gate's talk isn't uploaded yet, it says it will be about 24 hours.
On February 06 2009 03:26 Juicyfruit wrote: I"m going out and buying an xbox 360 because of this. LOL AWESOME.
Imagine what he"d be showering the crowds with if the topic was AIDS.
"oh by the way everyone, if anyone felt a pinprick as you sat down, 1/20th of you have been randomly selected by where you sat to be infected with aids... Sucks to be a statistic doesn't it"?
On February 06 2009 03:45 Chill wrote: I wonder at what point it's some form of assault. Releasing fire ants? Releasing ravens to peck at people? Releasing dogs?
Kangaroo's with boxing gloves, that's where I draw the line.
On February 06 2009 03:26 Juicyfruit wrote: I"m going out and buying an xbox 360 because of this. LOL AWESOME.
Imagine what he"d be showering the crowds with if the topic was AIDS.
"oh by the way everyone, if anyone felt a pinprick as you sat down, 1/20th of you have been randomly selected by where you sat to be infected with aids... Sucks to be a statistic doesn't it"?
LuL
I don't think he meant pinpricks...
Yeah that wasn't what came to mind when I read that lol.
On February 06 2009 03:45 Chill wrote: I wonder at what point it's some form of assault. Releasing fire ants? Releasing ravens to peck at people? Releasing dogs?
Kangaroo's with boxing gloves, that's where I draw the line.
I'd want to watch it live if this happened.
I'd pay to make this a reality, I'd also like to see a herd of elephants too I guess.
On February 06 2009 03:25 Osmoses wrote: Next are the locusts, and then Bill Gates will come into our homes in the dead of night as steal away with our firstborn sons.
Still, way to make a point. I think there are worse things than malaria to worry about in the world, does that mean I deserve to get swarmed by mosquitoes?
the thing about malaria is that it is easily reduced for very little cost. 15 cents will provide medication to prevent 50% of the deaths assossiated with it. a mosquito sleeping net that costs a few bucks will also save millions.
If I recall correctly an ex-girlfriend had malaria but had taken preventive drugs so it was not that bad. Dont recall all the facts about it ect. She spent a big part of her youth in Zambia and Namibia.
On February 06 2009 06:21 Racenilatr wrote: I personally think he should have tried to cure Aids
Havent he donated a boatload of money to aids research and aidsrelated projects?
To somewhat answer my own question, according to wikipedia the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation has "donated a grand total of US$287 million to various HIV/AIDS researchers. The money was split between sixteen different research teams across the world, on the condition that they share their findings with one another."
This does sound illegal in some sense, although I'm sure it was less ridiculous then the way I'm imagining it.
When you use the word "unleash," I think of Bill Gates laughing maniacally as he opens boxes and thousands of mosquitoes pour out onto the unsuspecting crowd, who run screaming with their hands in the air, knocking over tables and chairs and candles and starting fires as they trample each other to death trying to escape.
On February 06 2009 07:39 Ancestral wrote: When you use the word "unleash," I think of Bill Gates laughing maniacally as he opens boxes and thousands of mosquitoes pour out onto the unsuspecting crowd, who run screaming with their hands in the air, knocking over tables and chairs and candles and starting fires as they trample each other to death trying to escape.
Are you suggesting that's not what happened? Because it totally should have been.
On February 06 2009 03:25 Osmoses wrote: Next are the locusts, and then Bill Gates will come into our homes in the dead of night as steal away with our firstborn sons.
Still, way to make a point. I think there are worse things than malaria to worry about in the world, does that mean I deserve to get swarmed by mosquitoes?
the thing about malaria is that it is easily reduced for very little cost. 15 cents will provide medication to prevent 50% of the deaths assossiated with it. a mosquito sleeping net that costs a few bucks will also save millions.
Awareness is good.
so if i donate 30 cents, i've saved 100% of malaria victims from their death?
On February 06 2009 03:25 Osmoses wrote: Next are the locusts, and then Bill Gates will come into our homes in the dead of night as steal away with our firstborn sons.
Still, way to make a point. I think there are worse things than malaria to worry about in the world, does that mean I deserve to get swarmed by mosquitoes?
the thing about malaria is that it is easily reduced for very little cost. 15 cents will provide medication to prevent 50% of the deaths assossiated with it. a mosquito sleeping net that costs a few bucks will also save millions.
Awareness is good.
so if i donate 30 cents, i've saved 100% of malaria victims from their death?
I had very poor wording, but 30 cents would provide enough for two people. Statistically, one of them will live because of it. So you'll save a life with every 30 cents. I guess a little less as malaria is not fatal 100% of the time, but yeah.
Just watched it, very inspirational. The "swarm" part is kinda exaggerated by the way. :p Anyway Bill Gates has such a great attitude towards solving these problems in the world, I am very happy he's so passionate in doing what he does, his approaches seem very realistic and helpful.
He probably had all the mosquitos bred then tested them for diseases, as far as I'm concerned, no one will speak out against malaria awareness and no one contracted a disease. Who cares?
Wow, after actually listening to the whole speech, Bill Gates truly is a great humanitarian and a great speaker. For those of you who don't know, letting the mosquitoes provides for a "memorable" experience. If you just talk a lot, people probably won't remember you, but everybody will remember the mosquitoes.
What he said is really true though. Good teachers need to be rewarded more, and bad teachers need to be punished :/
On February 06 2009 12:55 FragKrag wrote: Wow, after actually listening to the whole speech, Bill Gates truly is a great humanitarian and a great speaker. For those of you who don't know, letting the mosquitoes provides for a "memorable" experience. If you just talk a lot, people probably won't remember you, but everybody will remember the mosquitoes.
What he said is really true though. Good teachers need to be rewarded more, and bad teachers need to be punished :/
Uhm I don't think that's what he said. He said that there are good ways for teachers to improve by analyzing what they do wrong and right. If you start punishing teachers you're definately not going to reach the desired effect of improvement. Even rewards tend to have a bad influence on intrinsic motivation which is counterproductive. Making teachers aware of their competence level is what's important, and maybe reward them based on that, but punishment is unethical and counterproductive.
ha, yeah I guess he didn't say it. Misinterpretation on my part :x
however, schools tend to fire teachers based on the amount of time they have spent with that school. So even if you are a great teacher, if you've only been there for a year, the guy that's been there for like 10 years yet teaches like crap will get preference over you.
I think the actions he took was very meaningful, I didn't really know how much he cared for other people until I read this on the news. I know he has his own foundation but wow, this is great.
EPT
.
