Microsoft's "Thoreau" takes to woods to ponder future
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002223020_gatesthink29.html
What's on Bill Gates' Mind
http://blog.informationweek.com/002534.html
Bill Gates' Web Site [Windows Media Player]
http://www.microsoft.com/billgates/default.asp
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/default.htm
CNET News.com
http://news.com.com/
TechWeb: The Business Technology Network
http://www.techweb.com/

It has been common practice for many persons of importance in the world of business, politics, and other fields to take some time off for introspection and to plan new strategies for the future. Of course, when the world's wealthiest individual takes time off for such a session, there is enhanced interest among the general public and a great deal of speculation. Such an event occurred recently when Bill Gates spent a week at an undisclosed location in the Pacific Northwest for his biannual "Think Week". These events have been going on for over a decade, and have inspired such important ideas as Gates' 1995 paper titled "The Internet Tidal Wave", which led to the creation of Microsoft's very popular Web browser. Most recently Gates allowed a reporter from The Wall Street Journal to visit him at his retreat, and this journey revealed that Gates spends 18 hours a day (or more) reading papers on computing trends, language software, and advances in computer security measures. Gates's surroundings during these week-long sessions are somewhat Spartan, as he has a rather modest apartment with a view of the water, a refrigerator containing Diet Orange Cursh and Diet Coke, and several personal computers.

The first link will take visitors to a Seattle Times news story from this Wednesday that gives additional insight into the brainstorming sessions of Bill Gates. The second link will take visitors to another appraisal of what else Bill Gates is pondering, as provided by the InformationWeek weblog. The third link leads to Gates' official website where interested parties can read his latest speeches, view some of his short essays, and read a brief biographical essay. The fourth link takes visitors to the homepage of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation which provides information on their charitable work, grant programs, and priority areas of support, such as education and health initiatives. The fifth link leads to the CNET Technology site which contains the latest technology news and links to other relevant news coverage. The final link leads to the like-minded TechWeb site, which also includes a white paper library of materials related to technology development and innovation. [KMG]