There is a lot to be said about Warren Buffett's announcement that most of his billions-of-dollars fortune will be given to charities, with particular focus on giving about $31 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. And we hope his actions, as well as those of the Gateses, reverbate through billionaire and millionaire circles, because giving back to the world that made them rich makes sense - tax incentives or no. For instance, when Ted Turner donated $1 billion to the U.N. in stock, he said, "When I got my statement in January. I was worth $2.2 billion. Then I got another statement in August that said I was worth $3.2 billion. So I figure its only nine months' earnings, who cares?" more ›

they're so great online - okay, you can read it, you Time subscribers - so we'll just speculate that Time was upset that an early pick of "Mother Nature" was leaked. And besides, what sells more magazines than one of the world's richest men and his do-gooding wife and an Irish rocker who rocks the sunglasses every chance he can? Managing Editor Jim Kelly explained on the Today show that the selection was to show what people can do in the face of adversity. more ›

Gothamist wonders if the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will feel the pressure to give some sort of Windows-based MP3 player to public schools. Brearley kids, get a cool sweater for your iPod. And we know that Brearley has celebrity history, thanks to Celebrity Prep Schools. And there are some NYC public schools that need basic supplies, period: Go to Donors Choose. more ›

- Gates' remark: "There's one fact about my past that I am glad Mr. Klein didn't mention. Of course, what I mean is that despite my commitment to education, I am actually, personally, a college dropout." more ›