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It's a little known fact, but true. Back in August of 2003, in a luncheon speech at the Detroit Economic Club, Gates said he had "a little more than 10 years" left in his software "career." The math is simple -- that would be 2013. A mere three years after that speech, however, Gates surprised the business world with his announcement of a 2008 retirement, five years earlier than indicated. It took New York Times reporter John Markoff to catch this discrepancy. It was the first question out of Markoff's mouth at Gates' retirement news conference, but Gates said he didn't recall his earlier statement, and the subject was dropped. But as he still owns a massive chunk of Microsoft, I'm sure he'll make his opinions known inside the company. And I'll bet Steve Ballmer has a "Bat Phone" hot-line to Bill hidden under a flower pot or something in his office.

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Just what Steve needs!