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Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? 370

Posted by Zonk from the i-never-get-the-cool-invites dept.
theodp writes to mention a C|Net article about Chinese President Hu Jintao's historic first visit to the U.S.. The catch is that his first dinner won't be at the White House. It will be at Bill Gates' manse. From the article: "The approximately 100-person guest list is a who's who of the U.S. Pacific Northwest power elite, including Starbucks Chairman Howard Schultz and Washington state Gov. Christine Gregoire, said event organizers. The guests will undergo strict security checks before entering Gates' lodge-style, 66,000-square-foot home overlooking Lake Washington with a reported seven bedrooms, six kitchens, 24 bathrooms, a domed library, a reception hall and an artificial estuary stocked with salmon and trout. Gates and Gregoire are expected to introduce and welcome Hu, who will then offer a toast in front of the gathering."
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Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? More

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

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  • Oh boy, here we go.... (Score:4, Funny)

    by BWJones ( 18351 ) * on Saturday April 15, 2006 @11:17PM (#15136525) Homepage Journal
    Rather than reference the classic movie starring Sydney Poitier, Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, I imagine this would be a more appropriate dialogue.

    Rove: "Sir, Hu is going to be attending a dinner at one of your biggest campaign contributors houses, Mr. Bill Gates."

    Bush: "Who?"

    Rove: "Yessir, Hu."

    Bush: "No, I'm asking you..... Who's coming to the US to have dinner with Geeky Gates?"

    Rove: "That's right sir, Hu."

    Bush: "...............Daggummit Turd Blossom! I'm asking you who is coming to the US to have dinner with Geeky Gates?"

    Ad nauseum

    • Bush: What about when? Rove: Wen? Bush: Yes, when. Rove: I don't know if the Premier is coming. Bush: Who asked about the Premier, damnit! Rove: Oh, did he? I assume he would know. Bush: Who? Rove: Yes, Hu would know Wen. Bush: Don't make me feed you a pretzel.

      • Re:Oh boy, here we go.... (Score:5, Funny)

        by sunwolf ( 853208 ) on Sunday April 16, 2006 @12:38AM (#15136813)
        Uh...properly spaced, that would be:

        Bush: What about when?
        Rove: Wen?
        Bush: Yes, when.
        Rove: I don't know if the Premier is coming.
        Bush: Who asked about the Premier, damnit!
        Rove: Oh, did he? I assume he would know.
        Bush: Who?
        Rove: Yes, Hu would know Wen.
        Bush: Rove...
        Rove: Yes?
        Bush: Don't make me feed you a pretzel.

  • More pressure to move to Red Flag Linux? (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Tontoman ( 737489 ) * on Saturday April 15, 2006 @11:19PM (#15136532)
    Apparently this is a culmination of of Microsoft's effort to reduce software piracy in China [rcpmag.com].
    Founder Technology President Qi Dongfeng said the company would buy $250 million worth of licenses for a Chinese version of Windows over the next three years, to be used on computers sold in China. The two companies also agreed to work together to promote the use of genuine versions of Windows.

    The agreement, which company officials signed at Microsoft's Redmond headquarters, follows high-level talks Tuesday between U.S. and Chinese officials in which China pledged to crack down on piracy and require computers to use legal software. Piracy is thought to be extremely widespread in China, hampering Microsoft's efforts to make money in the vast and growing market.

    The signing ceremony also comes ahead of a visit next week by Chinese President Hu Jintao, who will visit Microsoft headquarters and dine at the home of Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates.

  • Given what they're probably going to discuss (opening markets, etc.), Gates and the NPE (Northwest Power Elite) are probably more relevant than the President, since they've got all the money.

  • Who does number 2 work for (Score:5, Funny)

    by fxer ( 84757 ) on Saturday April 15, 2006 @11:23PM (#15136548)
    with a reported seven bedrooms, six kitchens, 24 bathrooms, a domed library, a reception hall and an artificial estuary stocked with salmon and trout.

    I bet the 1:3.4 ratio of sleeping to dumping at Gates' place has to be the highest in the nation.

    • Re:Who does number 2 work for (Score:4, Funny)

      by appleLaserWriter ( 91994 ) on Saturday April 15, 2006 @11:34PM (#15136591)
      I bet the 1:3.4 ratio of sleeping to dumping at Gates' place has to be the highest in the nation.

      Didn't you know Bill likes to host bathroom-orgies?

    • This proves that Gates just pretends to be one of us geeks. A real geek would never bathe that much.

      -- --
        Terrorists can destroy our trains and buildings, but they can't destroy our rights and our freedom. Only we and our lawmakers can destroy that.
      • You know all but one is a half-bath (or perhaps one full bath, 46 half-baths and they're just adding instead of listing properly). Don't all geeks love to work from the crapper thanks to us living in the Wi-Fi era? I'm sure our richest enemy plugs into a 30" flat panel in every one.
    • with a reported seven bedrooms, six kitchens, 24 bathrooms, a domed library, a reception hall...

      Where do you think the spyware's been installed?

    • Mutated Trout from The Evil Empire. (Score:4, Funny)

      by twitter ( 104583 ) on Sunday April 16, 2006 @12:09AM (#15136734) Homepage Journal
      artificial estuary stocked with salmon and trout.

      I'll bet those trout are ill tempered and have lasers on their heads. Hey, the work for Microsoft so they have to be in a bad mood. Everyday is a bad day, then they serve you for dinner when they "fucking kill" you as they've done before and will do again.

      It's nice to see the head of Evil Industry's Starbuck's division getting some publicity and credit. Number two's idea there was quite profitable.

      Gates, stroking a bald cat: "Do you like my quasi futuristic clothing, Chairman Hu? I designed them myself."

      Chairman Hu: "Ah yes, they are much like Chairman Mao's favorites, but he liked drab blue."

      Master Gates: "A toast then, to $400,000,000 and the drab."

      -clink-clink-

      Chairman Hu: "I have a thing for Red."

      Flunky S. Baller: "Tell me you are not talking about Red Flag Linux!" Perspiration half moons show under his arms.

      Chairman Hu: "I am."

      Baller, raising chair "I'm going to fucking kill Linus. I've done it before and -"

      Master Gates slaps Baller on the back of the head: "Down boy!" Turns and smiles. "He's a little fired up tonight."

      Baller: "I love this company! I work in the swamp. Though I do not fall in the trenches of coding, I am yet a soldier! Developers, Developers, Developers!"

      Master Gates laughs and pats Baller on the head. Yes, this is my favorite number two.

      Everyone laughs.

    • Hey man, Windows source code has to originate somewhere...
    • Could be his house is just so big that you need to make a washroom stop on your way to your bedroom.

      Or he just throws really bitchin' parties.
    • I wish I had a mod point. Funniest post I've read on /. in a long while.
  • Doesn't anyone have values anymore? I'm not against all consumption, or even against all conspicuous consumption, but when it gets to the point where there's no longer even any pretext I think it shows a lack of character.
    • I'm not against all consumption, or even against all conspicuous consumption, but when it gets to the point where there's no longer even any pretext I think it shows a lack of character.

      Then you should not look into the latest retirement package of the CEO of Exxon. He received a $400 Million package that works out to what...... over $1,095,000/day over the past year?

      • you should not look into the latest retirement package of the CEO of Exxon. He received a $400 Million package that works out to what...... over $1,095,000/day over the past year?

        That's small time next to Bill's $40 billion, dollars skimmed in part from companies like Exxon. Exxon at least makes gasoline and other petrochemicals.

        Also, when is the last time you heard Exxon flaunting it like this? The press release contained details about the freaking meal, smoked foul salad and all that. It's like read

      • a $400 Million package that works out to what...... over $1,095,000/day over the past year?

        They say money can't buy happiness, but I'm thinking that could go a long way. You'd be hard pressed to find a way to spend that amount of cash. You could buy a nice new house every day for a year and stock them with two decent cars and a network of the highest end computers money can buy (plus the requisite 10TB media server), and still have enough left over for your nightly 16-oz filet mignon. I think after ownin

    • The thing to know about Gates' palace is that the "family quarters" actually cover only about 3000 sq. ft., deep inside the fortress. (Don't be too harsh about that: his kids have gotten kidnapping and death threats over the years.) While 3K sq. ft. certainly isn't small, it's hardly palatial. Most of the 66K sq feet are essentially a public space for receptions.
      • While 3K sq. ft. certainly isn't small, it's hardly palatial.

        Yeah, the house arrest must be for their own protection. Is Steve Baller so careful with his? Will Bill keep his own safe from Ipod and Google [forevergeek.com]?

        Inside the Baller residence, Steve is fishing around under his son's bed. His son fidgets helplessly.

        Steve finds a CD, pulls it out and thrust it in his son's face. "What's this, son?!"

        Steve Jr: "It's ... it's my homework."

        Steve: "No it's not. I can tell you are lying to me. What is it?"

        Steve

  • Pirated Windows easy to spot... (Score:5, Funny)

    by Faust7 ( 314817 ) on Saturday April 15, 2006 @11:28PM (#15136567) Homepage
    The Chinese government issued a decree two weeks ago that all PCs will need to have a licensed operating system software installed before leaving the factory gates in an effort to crack down on piracy.

    Spotting the pirated copies of Windows will be easy.

    Instead of "Start," the button will say "Very Much Go."

  • Planned before (Score:3, Informative)

    by killa62 ( 828317 ) on Saturday April 15, 2006 @11:29PM (#15136570)
    Hu Jintao's was going to visit about a few months ago, but Hurricane Katrina delayed his visit until now.
    He cancelled it on the last day, and the time before, they were also going to dine at Gate's mansion where they had already prepared the salmon, which were airlifted from Alaska on the same day.
    Dunno what happend to them.

  • Need directions? (Score:3, Informative)

    by Skidge ( 316075 ) on Saturday April 15, 2006 @11:30PM (#15136572)
    If you want to drop in, here's Bill's house on google maps [via Sightseeing with Google Maps]:

    Bill Gates's House [perljam.net]

  • Takes One to Know One (Score:5, Funny)

    by Doc Ruby ( 173196 ) on Saturday April 15, 2006 @11:32PM (#15136584) Homepage Journal
    What happens when that security check reveals that one of the people walking through the door is a tyrant with billions subjects, harboring the biggest piracy, spammer and phishing rings it the world, with nuclear weapons?

    And that another is the slightly less powerful guest of that tyrant, the president of China?

  • Awkward Moment turns to Opportunity (Score:3, Funny)

    by FerretFrottage ( 714136 ) on Saturday April 15, 2006 @11:33PM (#15136586)
    Hu: President Gates, I..
    Gates: Please, I'm not the president, I have more power
    Hu: I am still pleased to present you with the Chinese version of Windows
    Gates: Hey, that's a pirated copy!
    Hu: Yes, we made it just for you, need a key?
    Gates: No, you go and post in on YOUR internet, be sure not to censor it. BTW, you do know that RED Hat isn't a communist version of Linux. It actually promotes human rights.
    Hu: Oh yes, we know, and based on what I am allowed to read about your decline in human rights, it appears that the US isn't using it either.
    Gates: Cheers

  • Now that your country has purchased XP (Score:5, Funny)

    by tlynch001 ( 917597 ) on Saturday April 15, 2006 @11:36PM (#15136598)
    Gates: Now that you've purchased a zillion licenses for XP, I want to talk about Vista.

    Hu: Yes, the view of Lake Washington is magnificent.

    Gates: Hee hee, that's not what I'm talking about...

  • Animal Farm (Score:5, Insightful)

    by twitter ( 104583 ) on Saturday April 15, 2006 @11:46PM (#15136638) Homepage Journal
    It's hard to tell who should be more ashamed of this meeting, but a brief quote from Animal Farm [online-literature.com] is appropriate:

    "Gentlemen," concluded Napoleon, "I will give you the same toast as before, but in a different form. Fill your glasses to the brim. Gentlemen, here is my toast: To the prosperity of The Manor Farm! "

    There was the same hearty cheering as before, and the mugs were emptied to the dregs. But as the animals outside gazed at the scene, it seemed to them that some strange thing was happening. What was it that had altered in the faces of the pigs? Clover's old dim eyes flitted from one face to another. Some of them had five chins, some had four, some had three. But what was it that seemed to be melting and changing? Then, the applause having come to an end, the company took up their cards and continued the game that had been interrupted, and the animals crept silently away.

    But they had not gone twenty yards when they stopped short. An uproar of voices was coming from the farmhouse. They rushed back and looked through the window again. Yes, a violent quarrel was in progress. There were shoutings, bangings on the table, sharp suspicious glances, furious denials. The source of the trouble appeared to be that Napoleon and Mr. Pilkington had each played an ace of spades simultaneously.

    Twelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all alike. No question, now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.

    Forty years ago, Nixon invented the policy of engagement to balance the dangerous Soviet Union against an equal dangerous but hungry Communist China.

    Ten years ago, with the Soviet menace defeated, Bill Clinton invented the complete sell out. Slave made goods have flowed into out country, jobs and money have flowed out. Parallel to this was born the myth of the "information economy" where the US would own ideas and the rest of the world would do our bidding because of it. Of course, for this ownership to be complete, it must apply to our own citizens. To enslave others, we must first prove our dedication to ruling by enslaving ourselves.

    You can draw a straight line to today, with the DMCA, Patriot act and rampant domestic spying from a tremendously expanded federal government. As the rich and powerful gateher in Redmond, ask yourself where the rhetoric of freedom has gone and why your boss is dining with a Communist. What in the hell are we doing?

    • A friendlier "Communism" (Score:4, Insightful)

      by Dis*abstraction ( 967890 ) on Sunday April 16, 2006 @12:12AM (#15136745)
      Nowadays the government calls it "socialism with Chinese characteristics," not because they think they're fooling anyone, but as a pretense to legitimacy. Socialism is being redefined as something roughly along the lines of Nordic-style welfare capitalism. It's not even clear that the burgeoning urban bourgeoisie would care if the Party apparatus were to repudiate socialism once and for all.

      Certainly we should petition for greater freedoms in mainland China and in particular for the rights of imprisoned [ethanzuckerman.com] journalists, political opponents, and religious leaders. Still, considering how terribly China's citizens suffered under previous incarnations (Mao) of the present post-Tiananmen regime, I'm optimistic for the future. I believe the Party will continue on its path of liberalization as a younger, more cosmopolitan generation of Oxford- and Columbia-educated Chinese accedes to power. Who needs revolution, after all, when you can build democracy from within?
      • "Nordic-style welfare capitalism"? I thought that Scandinavian countries were usually politically described as social democracies? Any Scandinavians care to comment on how they prefer to describe their own systems (politely ;-) ) ? Apologies if I've got it wrong, I've just never heard the phrase "Nordic-style welfare capitalism" before. Maybe it's just two different spins on the same system, claims from the right and the left to 'owning' the same model?
    • Forty years ago, Nixon invented the policy of engagement to balance the dangerous Soviet Union against an equal dangerous but hungry Communist China.

      Ten years ago, with the Soviet menace defeated, Bill Clinton invented the complete sell out. Slave made goods have flowed into out country, jobs and money have flowed out. Parallel to this was born the myth of the "information economy" where the US would own ideas and the rest of the world would do our bidding because of it. Of course, for this ownership to be
    • "As the rich and powerful gateher in Redmond, ask yourself where the rhetoric of freedom has gone and why your boss is dining with a Communist."

      I can't help but wonder if Yahoo will be there. Maybe they have more data on political dissidents they want to help Mr. Hu imprison. Alternatively, maybe collecting data on dissidents will be a new feature of Vista. I'm sure the US government would also happily take advantage.
    • Kudos, you wrote the most useful, relevant, important post in this whole thread.

      Related to that, everyone, and I mean everyone - liberal & conservative alike (including libertarians ;) ...should read Myths of Free Trade [amazon.com] and learn something real about our relationship with China and the rest of the world.
  • I live near there. I think I might take my friends boat up to Lake Washington and see if I can moon the president of China.

  • Birds of a feather .... (Score:3, Interesting)

    by argoff ( 142580 ) on Saturday April 15, 2006 @11:50PM (#15136655)
    ... flock together. They're both controll freaks, they both hate freedom and individual liberty, they both lie about free markets (China's while getting freer is not truely free, nor is MS which relies strictly on license monopolies and not competition), they both think they're smart and have large number of resources, they're both more interested in power and prestige than making a mark. Bill wants a billion people in his market, China wants total information controll over their citizens. In all truth, I wouldn't be suprosed if they slept together.

  • Security? (Score:3, Interesting)

    by sumdumass ( 711423 ) on Saturday April 15, 2006 @11:54PM (#15136672) Journal
    I wonder how security is going to be handles here. It seems that if some terrorist like the one wanting to get the WTO, knew about all these power players in one area, could think it might be an attractive target for them. It might have as much umph in the finacial world as the 9/11 attacks.

  • What the hell is this? (Score:4, Funny)

    by rob_squared ( 821479 ) <rob@rob-squared . c om> on Sunday April 16, 2006 @12:00AM (#15136698)
    A James Bond movie?

    Just...strikes me as odd is all.
    • .. stick your fingers in your ears, go "La la la la", and don't read up on the Bilderberg Group [bilderberg.org]. The guy who runs the site is a little too "Alex Jones" for my tastes, but dig deep and you'll find some interesting tidbits. It makes sense though, if you think about it - having a conference where you can say exactly what you think, without worrying about how it will affect you politically.

  • geek pres (Score:5, Interesting)

    by NoInfo ( 247461 ) * on Sunday April 16, 2006 @12:07AM (#15136731) Homepage Journal
    Did you know Hu Jintao got his degree in hydraulic engineering [wikipedia.org]? Why can't we have an engineer presient?

    • Re:geek pres (Score:5, Funny)

      by Kuukai ( 865890 ) on Sunday April 16, 2006 @12:25AM (#15136783) Journal
      Did you know Hu Jintao got his degree in hydraulic engineering? Why can't we have an engineer presient?

      Because we elect ours. Sad but true.
    • We had one. That's why we won't elect another one, at least until the last person who remembers the gas station lines is dead.

      • Re:geek pres (Score:4, Informative)

        by WindBourne ( 631190 ) on Sunday April 16, 2006 @01:29AM (#15136964) Journal
        And yet, it was with Nixon where the lines first started, as well as the outrageous inflation. It was JC who solved it by deregulating oil as well as bringing volker to manage the bank (nixon's idea was WIN and Reagan basically kept JC's system in place).

        JC tried to get America back on course of doing our own energy, rather than being dependant on outside energy. Sadly, we had 17% importing back then. Now we are up to 66% imports. Now, we have ex-NSA/CIA directors who are concerned with the amount of oil imports that we do.
    • Hey, you americans are lucky to have a president with an MBA! Here in Brazil we elected a man who barely completed high school and worked mostly as a machine operator in a car parts factory. Not to say he's dumb, oh no, he was smart enough to set this country's greatest corruption scheme ever...
    • A number of the last two generations of PRC leaders have been engineers. Most of them were trained in a Soviet-style polytechnic university (like Hu), some even in the Soviet Union. This goes back to the close ties the Soviets and the PRC had until 1969, when Mao had ambitions of taking over Stalin's post as "father" to the Communist world (never happened). The relationship between universities goes back really to the 1910's; while Paris was a hot place for talk about ideology, Russia was much more activ
    • Comment removed based on user account deletion

  • Vulcan proverb: Only Nixon can go to China (Score:3, Funny)

    by MobileTatsu-NJG ( 946591 ) on Sunday April 16, 2006 @12:11AM (#15136739)
    "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?"

    oo oo oo! Now say wessel!

  • Hu Cares? (Score:4, Funny)

    by AnalystX ( 633807 ) on Sunday April 16, 2006 @12:15AM (#15136754) Journal
    Really.

  • Maybe I missed the memo - is 'manse' a word now?
  • From http://news.com.com/Bill+Gates+and+other+communist s/2010-1071_3-5576230.html [com.com]:

    When CNET News.com asked Bill Gates about software patents, he shifted the subject to "intellectual property," blurring the issue with various other laws. Then he said anyone who won't give blanket support to all these laws is a communist.

    And now he invites a communist to his house. In the words of Lucille Bluth from Arrested Development, "How the worm has turned."

  • buddies (Score:2, Interesting)

    by monkeyos ( 957157 )
    "I suppress ideas", "oh, so do i"

  • Ladies and Gentlemen... (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Puff of Logic ( 895805 ) on Sunday April 16, 2006 @01:16AM (#15136922)
    ...I give you the future. It used to be that heads of state met openly, whilst businessmen made deals behind the scenes. Today, we see a head of state openly meeting with arguably the most powerful businessman in the United States. In a few years, the business men will simple meet, having done away with the facade of "heads of state." We live in interesting times.

  • As Marx told me one day ... (Score:3, Funny)

    by ignavus ( 213578 ) on Sunday April 16, 2006 @01:17AM (#15136925)
    Like many rich men, Gates has a hobby.

    He just likes to collect China.

  • Big business is evil (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Tablizer ( 95088 ) on Sunday April 16, 2006 @01:21AM (#15136939) Journal
    It is time for a good political rant. Big business is too powerful and interfering in international relations to a frightening extent.

    Most innovation and growth comes from small and medium companies. Large companies exaggerate the power of economies of scale because being nimble is more important in a fast changing world. Big biz survives by bullying smaller companies, not by doing the job better or being more efficient. Anybody who has worked for a big company knows that they are inharently disfunctional.

    American car companies didn't grow bloated and slow because of lack of foreign competition, but because of a lack of domestic competition, ei. smaller but more car companies. Japan's auto makers grew competitive because Japan had about 12 car companies before going overseas.

    Big businesses should be split, or at least mergers above a certain size should curtailed. Most mergers result in a net loss of profits. The only reason they still happen is because of a select few who make big bucks off such deals and the ego power of being big.
           

    • Free markets (Score:3, Insightful)

      by SonicSpike ( 242293 )
      See, the beauty is that under free markets businesses that can't turn a profit, or corrupt the market, will collapse under their own weight eventually.

      Legislation and governmental action is not needed unless that specific entity has been playing unfairly by being anti-competitive or predatorial.

      I agree that smaller companies tend to be more innovative, but larger companies have their place as well. Large companies allow for mass production, thus lower costs and more savings to the end consumer. This means t
  • the China(R) Corporation.

    How fitting...

  • Clever (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Nemus ( 639101 ) <astarchman@hotmail.com> on Sunday April 16, 2006 @01:31AM (#15136971) Journal
    This is probably intended more as a snub towards Bush, as opposed to a show of favor towards Gates. While it is typical for business leaders to meet with heads of state (Gates has done it several times, I believe) they typically do it on the head of state's home soil, as a sign of showing favor towards the nation. On the other hand, by making his first official visit to the U.S. one to the home of a person who is still technically a private citizen, Hu is essentially slapping Bush across the face. Otherwise, theres no real reason for Hu to come to the US, as opposed to Bush visiting China.

    Honestly, I'm really not sure how many times since Western style diplomacy became the Gold standard internationally that something like this has happened. For a foreign head of state to visit a country and not visit at least someone in the government first is highly, highly irregular. This isn't so much a tech story, I think, as a political one.

    • Re:Clever (Score:5, Interesting)

      by interstellar_donkey ( 200782 ) <pathighgate AT hotmail DOT com> on Sunday April 16, 2006 @02:34AM (#15137129) Homepage Journal
      It almost seems as if the world doesn't have time to keep up the charade. You can meet with US politicians and talk till your face turns blue, but the reality is action and policy is directed by business leaders, and with rare exception our politicans, from the President on down, are going to accomidate those who fund their campaigns.

      Perhaps China realizes this. Why meet with Bush when you know trade policy is going to be in the hands of the American tycoons? Heck, we probably wouldn't go to war unless it somehow served the interests of America's business power elite.

      I'm not saying this is exactly how it is with America's politics, but it sure as heck seems that way. And if it's true, China is snubbing Bush because they simply want to talk to who's really in charge.

    • Re:Clever (Score:4, Interesting)

      by tgd ( 2822 ) on Sunday April 16, 2006 @06:36AM (#15137562)
      Well look at the two choices. Gates is an intellectual, one of the biggest philanthropists in history, and is spending billions of dollars helping to improve education around the world (especially in the US with his new project) and helping to cure real killer diseases like Malaria.

      Bush is the crowning achievement of the anti-intellectualism movement in America, couldn't imagine doing something good for another human being, but rather would lie and thieve his way to his own and his frieds' personal benefit at the expense of everyone else.

      Fault Gates as you will for his business practices (although they're tame compared to Balmer and nearly every other CEO or ex CEO in business), but I know which of the two I'd rather spend time with.

  • It seems strange that the person to talk with Chinese officials about why there should be more focus on making sure IP is paid for would be a multi-billionaire, who made his vast fortunes with his IP, in his massive mansion. It sure wouldn't encourage me to make sure he gets more money.
  • I can easily see the wests motivation for this meeting. 1 billion+ consumers.

    You only have to look at the difference between america's threathment of Cuba (a couple of million consumers) vs China (over a billion consumers) t0 know what the US is about when it comes to world politics.

    But what about China's motivation for this? China has been doing very well for itself following its own unique style of goverment.

    While it ain't exactly communism it sure as hell isn't capatalism either. Neither has it given

    • I can easily see the wests motivation for this meeting. 1 billion+ consumers. ... But what about China's motivation for this?
      250 million+ consumers, a gateway to the remaining couple of billion, and a crack at economic hegemony over the world.

      Or, in other words, for the same reasons the US wants to engage with China...

    • Yeah, and MS has one of its largest offshore centers in Beijing. The current buzz out here in Singapore is that there's a fair fight between Chinese and Indian ex-pats in Redmond in bringing projects to their respective home countries.

      I'm not saying spying might not be a motivation, but surely, more employment could be one of the more obvious reasons for this wooing?

  • Trying to defuse trade deficit tensions with China.

    http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstech nology/2002916176_chinatrade07.html [nwsource.com]

    I thought the Chinese were interested in Linux ? I am guessing Uncle Sam forced Windows onto them.

    Kind of a shame.

  • Google Search (Score:4, Funny)

    by wideBlueSkies ( 618979 ) * on Sunday April 16, 2006 @11:11AM (#15138054) Journal
    Google Search for: Hu visit to US

    result:

    Your search - Hu visit to US - did not match any documents.
    IP Logged.

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