What's behind the Michael Dell buyback of Dell?

I have no idea.

And I have no idea what Big Bill Gates might be thinking when he agrees to back-stop this deal.

Maybe we're just looking on as these billionaire tech geniuses drive themselves onto the rocks of hubris.

Or let hubris drive them onto the rocks of... oh, for fuck's sakes... I'm getting bogged down in a sea of contradictory metaphors...

("bogged down" at sea? please!!)

And while there might be some ideas that don't look too bad in the rear-view mirror, all concerned would be well advised to give their heads a good shake and try looking ahead.

Microsoft + Dell; a marriage of has-beens

This take-Dell-private story reminds me of that joke Henny Youngman milked his entire career.

Take it private... PLEASE take it private.

There's a couple of hedge fund sharpies backstopping Microsoft on this proposed deal. Not sure what they see in this. Maybe Mike Dell's company is sitting on vast undervalued real estate acreage. Or maybe they just want to suck up to Big Bill.

Which reminds me of a story I heard from a guy who had a bartender gig in Banff. Seems one evening when Big Bill Gates was in town for a conference Buddy's place had a sudden sweep of private security types. They paid the three or four unattached women in the bar cash to go and drink somewhere else.

Then Mr.Gates arrived.

Had a drink and left.

The market for Bill Gates stories is bigger than the market for Microsoft and Dell combined.

Henny Youngman would appreciate that.