I may be an Apple computer user but that I am troubled that Bill Gates has moved down a notch on the Forbes 400 list (Warren Buffet has replaced him). This is information that would normally breeze by my eyes without much concern but it’s all different now - how the richest in society are doing will eventually connect to you and me. And sadly, Gates’ removal from the #1 spot was due to recalculations post October 1 and as it stands, a lot of the Forbes bunch has lost over 1 billion dollars in the last month:

“We chose to focus on some of the more high-profile billionaires on The Forbes 400, and print a sampling of those who lost over $1 billion during the month of September,” said Forbes senior editor Matthew Miller. The initial list, released on September 17, was calculated using publicly traded stock prices on August 29, while the revised fortunes of some billionaires uses October 1 prices. Third place Oracle Corp founder Lawrence Ellison, saw his estimated $27 billion fortune drop to $25.4 billion, but he did not appear to lose his position. [REUTURS]

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While on business in Seattle this week I visited one of the most daring examples of public architecture of the past decade, the Seattle Central Library.   The building, designed primarily by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, has drawn mixed reviews both architecture afficianados and the general public as I found out in a conversation with a Taxi Driver the evening before my visit:

“Is that the Seattle Central Library?” I asked.

“Yeah.   But it’s pretty much become like an enormous Temple to Nerds.” he replied.

“Are there plaques to nerds in there?”

“No, but there are plaques to the companies run by nerds that gave them the money to build that piece of s***.  Microsoft, Amazon, Amgen…”

“Those are some rich nerds.” I added.

“Yeah, but the funny thing is that at this point all there products are f****** s***!”

At this point the conversation devolved into some typical thing about Bill Gates taking his ideas from other companies, yada, yada, yada.   But I digress.

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UPDATE: Windows did end up unveiling the site today with videos from the Mojave Experiment. The Mojave Experiment was as deadpan as rumored to be - it’s simply videos taken on a hidden camera of people testing a disguised version of Windows Vista then talking about how much they like it. The look and feel of the site reminds us a lot of Pic Lens, which is a good thing. The videos remind us of old school TV commercials with hidden cameras, which is neither good nor bad. All in all, we’re underwhelmed and a little surprised that you can’t send the videos to your friends.

Tomorrow Microsoft is pulling the veil off the Mojave Experiment. What is the Mojave Experiment? We don’t know much about it yet here at TakePart (we were tipped off when Michael Gartenberg mentioned it in his Twitter feed), but from what we can tell it looks like a viral marketing ploy from Microsoft to convince folks that it’s Vista operating system (OS) isn’t that bad after all. In the experiment, over 120 computer users from all different backgrounds used the same HP Pavillion computer to “test” Microsoft’s new operating system. What the users didn’t know the “next Microsoft OS codenamed Mojave” they were testing was actually just Windows Vista.

While the experiment itself hasn’t been shown to the public, it was met with positive reviews at a Microsoft financial analysts meeting last week. It’s interesting that Microsoft has put together a campaign so quickly, even more so considering that the campaign was not concieved or run under their new-ish $300 million dollar deal with advertising agency Crispin Glover.

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The TakePart Top 10 Weekly Roundup is now here to give you the very best of Katie, Nicole, Giulia, Gina and Kerry! If you worry about missing your favorite bloggers’ posts as they push their way down the page each and every week - Never Fear! Check out our most popular posts of the week, as well as a few TakePart blogger favorites.

Katie:

Woody Guthrie: This Grammy Is Your Grammy / This Grammy Is My Grammy

Rambo Fights for Burma’s Freedom + 5 Steps You Can Take To Help Burma In 5 Minutes

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Nicole:

“Yes We Can” Obama Music Video a Unique Celebrity Endorsement

Top 10 US Grant, Scholarship and Fellowship Awarding Foundations

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Giulia:

Ba-Da-Bling Commercials Pulled in New York

“Safe Sex or No Sex” Shirts Get Teens Suspended

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Gina:

10 Internet Videos Featuring Celebrities Advocating For A Cause

Close Up: An Introduction to Iranian Cinema and Cinematic Rainbows

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Kerry:

Sheryl Crow’s Apocalyptic Peak-Oil Song

Solar Powered Soldiers Wear Uniforms with Built-In Batteries

Check out these Top Ten U.S. foundations awarding grants, scholarships and fellowships to innovative, fresh thinking people and organizations looking to promote democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, and promote international cooperation. Got a great million dollar idea for promoting civil rights and social action, but don’t know who to turn to for the big bucks? Get a proposal together and follow the links below!

1) The Ford Foundation

to find out about current programs funded by the Ford Foundation, and to gain information on grant proposals.

2) The Open Society Institute and Soros Foundation Network

to find out about current programs funded by the Open Society, and gain information on grants, scholarships, and fellowships.

3) Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

to find out about current programs funded by the Gates Foundation, and gain information on grants awarded to US 501 C3 organizations and other tax exempt organizations.

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Billionaire Bill Gates and U2 frontman Bono chastised their fellow philanthropists gathered at the Davos Forum in Switzerland for not doing enough to solve the world’s problems, according to the AP:

“This is the world’s report card. In some areas there are good grades, in some areas not,” Gates said. “We can make more progress, so it’s important to be part of this endeavor. It’s the most important work in the world.”

Bono was less diplomatic:

“My advice to the developing world? Get a good lawyer and haul our asses into court!” he said.

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by Kerry Trueman

Bloomberg News reports today that corn-based ethanol has earned the distinction of being “2007’s worst energy investment.”

Bill Gates and Archer Daniels Midland are among the supposedly savvy types who embraced ethanol as the solution to our energy needs. But it’s not reducing oil demand, it takes more energy to make than it gives off, and it does nothing to help the environment. On the contrary, stepped up corn production means more fertilizers and pesticides and threatens our dwindling water supply.

So distilleries are shutting down, ethanol stocks are tanking and there’s a glut of this stuff they can’t even unload. It all adds up to a losing proposition. Why didn’t these guys do the math?