So it seems that Bill Gates has finally departed the executive chair from Microsoft. That has to be a crazy feeling for Gates as Microsoft has been apart of him since early adult hood. Some amazing articles I have read so far that are covering the story are very interesting and a huge blast from the past. Here are a few excerpts and links to full stories that I enjoyed reading so far:

Gates’ departure will leave a big hole at Microsoft. In 2000, Gates stood down as CEO, replaced by Steve Ballmer, and although Gates continued to have an advisory role he has gradually reduced his day-to-day involvement with the company, preferring instead to focus on his charitable works. - Full Story

Gates is investing in a project inside Myhrvold’s Intellectual Ventures LLC, which is working on a new type of nuclear reactor that would use fuels other than enriched uranium — including spent fuel from existing reactors. - Full Story

Microsoft is losing Gates at a time when “cloud computing” is shaking the packaged software foundation on while the company’s fortune is built.

Cloud computing refers to a trend in which firms such as Google and Salesforce.com let people use programs on the Internet instead of having to install and maintain software on their own machines. Full Story