Along with about 700-900 tech policy people, I saw Bill Gates speak tonight at CDT's stupendous celebratory dinner tonight.

The most memorable part of his talk tied access to knowledge and the affordances of the internet together.  I think what he's done with his foundation is honorable and worthwhile, and the slightly snarky comments near me stilled when he talked about micro-investments in other people's efforts online.

He looked both younger and older than I thought he would -- hair darker, but one shoulder visibly stooped.  You can see what he might look like in twenty years.  Slightly nasal voice.  He got off a good joke:  Time's approach to the Person of the Year this year (the reflective square on the front cover, celebrating user-generated content) effectively made him Man of the Year two years in a row -- he just had to share it with others this year.

Microsoft's attacks on Google right now seem aimed at deflecting attention away from MSN's antitrust problems in Europe.  I don't charge Mr. Gates with these attacks; he seemed above the fray this evening.