Time’s Person(s) of the Year 2005

[Back]

Bono, Melinda & Bill Gates (http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1142278,00.html)


These are not the people you expect to come to the rescue. Rock stars are designed to be shiny, shallow creatures, furloughed from reality for all time. Billionaires are even more removed, nestled atop fantastic wealth where they never again have to place their own calls or defrost dinner or fly commercial. So Bono spends several thousand dollars at a restaurant for a nice Pinot Noir, and Bill Gates, the great predator of the Internet age, has a trampoline room in his $100 million house.

Registration required to read the whole article. TIME has a new registration that supercedes the whole login/pword thing so www.bugmenot.com does not work.

Bummer.

An article (http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=175006459) from www.informationweek.com. No registration required.


Time magazine has named Bill and Melinda Gates and rock star Bono its ''Persons of the Year," citing their charitable work and activism aimed at reducing global poverty and improving world health.

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Charitable work and activism. Certainly these people who have the most decided to give. The oil company CEOs aren’t on the list. Is this a trend towards capital responsibility or foolishness?

[Ebondale]

The Gates Foundation has been giving money away left and right to people that actually need t. I'm not sure if that makes them the people of the year, but it certainly has raised my personal opinion of them.

[Numbers]

I want a trampoline room.

[Back]

Originally posted by Ebondale
The Gates Foundation has been giving money away left and right to people that actually need t. I'm not sure if that makes them the people of the year, but it certainly has raised my personal opinion of them.

Them tying with Bono and that they actually give so much raises my impression. And I HATE Microsoft products!

[TheEschaton]

These are not the people you expect to come to the rescue. Rock stars are designed to be shiny, shallow creatures, furloughed from reality for all time.

Funny, that's my exact impression of Bono.

There was a clip of him during Live 8 which they kept playing in Namibia, which went something like, "We must all band together as musicians and play to save the world." That sound was me throwing up a little in my mouth, Bono.

What a pretentious prick.

-TheE-

[Makkah]

I was disappointed to not see Katrina as the "Person" of the Year

[Mistomeer]

They actually talked about making Mother Nature person of the year.

And yeah, Bono completely deserves it.

[Sean of the Thread]

I hate Bono and I hope he smashes his grill on a curb in a media attention whore stunt.

Oh and their music shitty..


"How long.. how long must I sing this song??""

TOO FUCKING LONG STFU

[Edited on 12-20-2005 by Xyelin]

[TheEschaton]

Thank you god, another person who hates U2.

There's something about the guy that makes me want to bash his face in.


And I'm a pacifist.


-TheE-

[Back]

Vertigo was the last CD they put out. What was Gates’? Windows Media?

[Drew2]

Originally posted by Backlash
Vertigo was the last CD they put out. What was Gates’? Windows Media?

I like the "let's be irrelevent" game. It's always a classic.

[Skirmisher]

Originally posted by TheEschaton
Thank you god, another person who hates U2.

There's something about the guy that makes me want to bash his face in.


And I'm a pacifist.


-TheE-

Hrm, I'm not quite sure why you should care so much about Bono.

He thinks highly of himself and has at best a less than complete understanding of the causes he espouses, but if you don't like him then don't listen. :shrug:

He kind of irks me with his superior attitude at times, but I would still place him ahead of the most recent pop/hip hop/rap star more worried about getting bling bling, a house and cars that will get them on MTV Cribs.

[Latrinsorm]

The last CD was How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. Vertigo was a single.

Bono is *extremely* pretentious. Bono is also *extremely* well-versed and involved in what he's talking about (e.g. DATA). Sort of like Angelina Jolie, but pretentious instead of insane (and less boobage).

[Daniel]

Boobs over stupid sunglasses anyday.

[The Cat In The Hat]

Originally posted by TheEschaton
Thank you god, another person who hates U2.

There's something about the guy that makes me want to bash his face in.


And I'm a pacifist.


-TheE-


Include me in the people that hate U2 list. Never could stand them, especially Bono.


My opinion? Angelina Jolie should have been included in that short list somewhere.

[Wezas]

I didn't used to hate U2. I tolerated them.

Until I found out Latrinsorm had two favorite artists, U2 and Avril.

Now I hate U2

[TheEschaton]

I care about what an idiot Bono is because he tries to be concerned in a field I actually work in, and his idiocy, while not directly affecting my work, makes me want to give up and hate the world.

At least rap stars concerned about their bling bling don't pretend they're not shallow.

-TheE-

[CrystalTears]

Originally posted by The Cat In The Hat
My opinion? Angelina Jolie should have been included in that short list somewhere.

Heh, as much as a love her, she IS one to cause a lot of domestic strife. She may be a great humanitarian and ambassador, but she is too controversial to ever be a person of the year with Time.

[Czeska]

Sudden strange urge to post U2 lyrics in the other thread. Pfft.

I also happened to love the SuperBowl half time show the January after 9/11.

I could give a shit if it was done for publicity.. it was wonderful, and touched millions of people.

[The Cat In The Hat]

Originally posted by CrystalTears

Originally posted by The Cat In The Hat
My opinion? Angelina Jolie should have been included in that short list somewhere.

Heh, as much as a love her, she IS one to cause a lot of domestic strife. She may be a great humanitarian and ambassador, but she is too controversial to ever be a person of the year with Time.


I dunno, being controversial doesn't make what you accomplish any less important. Not sure what you would call domestic strife. Clarify woman!

[TheEschaton]

I also happened to love the SuperBowl half time show the January after 9/11.


Are you serious? The names scrolling, ok, any act would of done that. But Bono's look of mock sincerity/sadness/emotion made me want to scream at the TV.

I don't know what it is about the guy.

-TheE-

[Latrinsorm]

Originally posted by TheEschaton
But Bono's look of mock sincerity/sadness/emotion Bono has never been one to feign sincerity. If anything he's TOO sincere (which can get a little grating).

I agree that that halftime show was awesome, and add that it was the best I've seen before or since.

[TheEschaton]

The best halftime show ever was far and away Michael Jackson, Heal the World, Super Bowl XXV.


-TheE-

[Frank White]

Anyone ever read that page on Maddox about U2? funny as hell, lemme link it

http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=11worst

[Frank White]

Anyone ever read that page on Maddox about U2? funny as hell, lemme link it

http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=11worst

[Latrinsorm]

The Maddox thing would be funnier if he could go 2 sentences without contradicting himself.

[Apotheosis]

Originally posted by Frank White
Anyone ever read that page on Maddox about U2? funny as hell, lemme link it

http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=11worst

ROFL

[Frank White]

Originally posted by Latrinsorm
The Maddox thing would be funnier if he could go 2 sentences without contradicting himself.

Uh oh, someone is a U2 fan.

[radamanthys]

My g'pa pwned the dude once... he wanted to get a photo of some other celeb or something, and he screamed at him. "Hey, Bono, get your ass outta the fuckin' way!" Bono moved his ass, too.

He's about as much a hardcore ornery italian man as you can get. Hysterical.

[Kembal]

Personally, I think Bono is a great guy. Then again, he was the Commencement speaker at my college graduation in 2004. Easily one of the best and most motivating speeches I've heard in my life.

[Czeska]

I find it amusing that someone can criticize U2 and like Michael Jackson....

[Back]

Been a big fan of U2 since the Red Rock LP. (Yeah, that long) Joshua Tree was one of those albums that every song applied to my life at the time. Ach Tung Baby I think was their best, when they had Brian Eno on board. Zooropa was kinda eh. They did a soundtrack for a movie about Serbia in there some where that was really good.

Bono as a character is cool enough. They all started with nothing and are now major rock gods in the ranks with the Stones. I haven’t been particularly impressed with their most recent releases but for someone in my generation, they are icons I watched from the start. A part of my life’s audio scenery.

I agree Bono seems pretentious. I think he is on purpose. Remember, they all came from nothing and grossed the largest tour in history. To me, it gives them the right to do what ever the fuck they want including wearing Bvlgari sunglasses 24/7.

In defense, whether you like them or not, Bono has given something of what he has rightfully earned back to the world. And thats after giving [some of] us great tunes and memories.

[Ebondale]

Originally posted by The Cat In The Hat

My opinion? Angelina Jolie should have been included in that short list somewhere.

Nah, she should have made the Homewrecker of 2005 list.

[Krendeli]

After reading all these posts and the bashing off the people of the year, I pose this question.

Who would you have voted for and why?

[Krendeli]

And this question too....Who will be person of the year next year?

My answers will be soon to follow. I need to go ponder and feed the kid.

[Wezas]

While I'm suprised he (http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/images/2004/02/11/image599725x.jpg) wasn't listed with this year's winners, I'm sure he (http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/images/2004/02/11/image599725x.jpg) will be next year's man of the year.

[Krendeli]

Bill O'reilly? Righttttt.

[Back]

What is interesting about this year’s winners is that Bono isn’t even American.

I guess if we open it up to the world stage... Hugo Chavez or Veronica Zemanova.

For Americans... Ariana Huffington, John Stewert, Steven Colbert or Sandee Westgate.

Disclaimer: Googling the names above may or may not be safe for the work environment. The views expressed by the author of this post do not necessarily express the views of Players Corner. In fact, I would like to take this opportunity to deny everything. Your Honor, I was never even near the place and, what's more, those are not my trousers and those are most assuredly not my friends. They are merely a drunken and surly gang of hitchhikers I made the terrible, terrible mistake of giving a lift. I promise to be good. Really. I swear.

[Edited on 12-21-2005 by Backlash]

[The Cat In The Hat]

Originally posted by Ebondale

Originally posted by The Cat In The Hat

My opinion? Angelina Jolie should have been included in that short list somewhere.

Nah, she should have made the Homewrecker of 2005 list.

Pretty sure they were having problems before that. He wanted kids and Aniston didn't but thats really all I know about the situation. But yah, I guess she did do some homewrecking.

That still doesn't take away from the humanitarian things she has done and will continue to do.

[Edited on 12-21-2005 by The Cat In The Hat]

[Krendeli]

After much thinkin and deliberating, I found this to be a much tougher question to answer than I expected.

When I ask this question of myself. I sit back and think about what does a person of the year do? A person of the year, in my opinion, alters whole of human history(whether it be good or bad) or performs an act that becomes the conversation piece for each and every coffee table. The person may/may not be American, I think limitng it to Amercians is too ethnocentric.

Unfortunately, this year I can find no one of international influence that fulfills the requirements for me.

So I must look domestically. My first choice, until she went totally nutty and took her crusade too far, would have been Cindy Sheehan. She put a face on the families that lost heroes in our president's war. It is sad though that she could not step out of the limelight when her time was up. She pushed the envelope too far.

For my person of the year, I must choose John Murtha. He stood up for what he thinks is right and be damned about what it may cost him at election time. For too long, no one would say anything as directed and as poignant as he did to Bush, Cheney, etc.

My prediction for next year's man of the year. While I don't have his name off-hand, I would look for that goofball that's running Iran. He sounds like some bad news.

[TheEschaton]

It's very easy why one can like Michael Jackson and dislike Bono. The former changed the face of music and dance, spawning a generation of musicians. If not for his personal problems, he'd probably be most musicians second biggest influence, behind the Beatles, at least on the R&B side of the music world.

The latter just groans into a microphone and squeals like a little girl on occasion about bad things that happen to everyone but him.

-TheE-

[Back]

Originally posted by Krendeli
John Murtha.

Good call.

[Skirmisher]

Originally posted by Krendeli
After reading all these posts and the bashing off the people of the year, I pose this question.

Who would you have voted for and why?

It's already been said in this thread, but my answer would be Mother Nature.

[Trinitis]

Carlos Mancia - For having the balls to step up infront of millions of people, call all of them what they are (assholes, losers, [insert every racial sterotype known to man], etc) and get paid to do it.

A beer raised for Mancia.

[Nieninque]

Originally posted by TheEschaton
I care about what an idiot Bono is because he tries to be concerned in a field I actually work in, and his idiocy, while not directly affecting my work, makes me want to give up and hate the world.

At least rap stars concerned about their bling bling don't pretend they're not shallow.

-TheE-

See, this is just arrogance IMO.
"Bono pretends like he does speshul stuff, but its me that does speshul stuff."

If Bono has woken people up to some of the issues that people in underdeveloped countries face, in a way that other mediums couldnt, then he deserves credit for that. Who cares that he is fickle? Who cares that he is shallow? He did something that advertising campaigns alone couldnt do.

BTW, I am no U2 fan