You're an ol' namedropper

Your banker loves to give you greenbacks, right?
No, you say, well I have a few suggestions for you. Five, and possibly, 10, if you pay attention.
The next time you're in the Canadian Bank of Cheap Skates, tell Mr. Tightwad that you're a friend of Bill Gates.
Yes, that Bill Gates, who ranks No. 1 among the world's billionaires, according to Forbes Magazine.
Then if Mr. Tightwad doesn't choke on his pencil, tell him that Billy Boy, age 49, has a net worth of $46.5 billion and read him the Forbes' memo that claims Sir William (yes, he was given an honorary knighthood) is still pressing Microsoft beyond PCs into television set-top boxes, games, cell phones. Gates told his company researchers that "software is where the action is." Of course, Bill is diversifying his wealth, according to Forbes, because he sells 20 million shares each quarter and then re-invests in such hot commodities as Cox Communications, Canadian National Railway, etc. And then when he's not growing money trees, Gates gives it away -- some $27 million. His foundation, along with his wife, Melinda, fights infectious diseases, funds vaccine development and helps high schools.
Isn't Mr. Tightwad convinced you are worthy of a loan?
Well, here's another name for you: Warren Buffet, 74, of Berkshire Hathway, with a net worth of $44 billion. He's a major holder in such investments as insurance, energy, carpets, jewelry, furniture, paint (Benjamin Moore), apparel (Fruit of the Loom), American Express, Coca-Cola, Gillette, etc., according to Forbes.
After Gates and Buffet comes No. 3, according to Forbes, and that's Lakshmi Mittal, 54, from India, who lives in London, England. Overseeing the world's largest steel company, Mittal Steel, he has amassed some $25 billion. This father of two doesn't mind dropping a few dollars, in fact he spent $60 million to host his daughter's five-day long wedding celebration in Versailles last summer.
At No. 4, according to Forbes, is 65-year Carlos Slim Helu, who is worth some $23.8 billion from Mexico City. Cited as Latin America's richest man, this Midas is in communications with diverse holdings in retail, banking, insurance and autoparts manufacturing. In addition, according to Forbes, the widower with six children has invested heavily in Rodin sculptures and even restores colonial buildings in Mexico City's historic city centre.
Perhaps, the most flamboyant of the billionaires is No. 5 Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud with a cool $23.7 billion. From Saudi Arabia, this globe-trotting investor, at age 48, has a massive stake in Citicorp, and touts his wealth by taking ads out on CNN.
So there you have it, according to Forbes, the top five billionaires on the planet. Of course, since you're into name-dropping, don't forget to add six through 10: Ingvar Kamprad, Paul Allen, Karl Albrecht, Lawrence Ellison and S. Robson Walton.

O'REILLY GETS SECOND BILLING: As an avid Bill O'Reilly watcher on Fox, the Ol' Columnist was a bit surprised to learn that Greta Van Susteran's 'On the Record' had zoomed into the top ratings as she pursued the disappearance of Natalee Holloway in Aruba. In case, you've missed the story, the Alabama teen vanished, almost into thin air, and has been nightly fare on U.S. networks. Van Susteran, who used to be at CNN, has "camped" out on the vacation island, and averaged 2.2 million viewers nightly during July. She bested O'Reilly eight times in the ratings, although Bill was off four of those nights. The lawyer has been a forceful interviewer in keeping interest in the tragic disappearance.

CARTOON NAMES: If you ever wondered how certain cartoon characters got their names, a peek inside Uncle John's Bathroom Reader might help. Take for instance Bugs Bunny. In 1940, cartoonist Bugs Hardaway submitted preliminary sketches for a "tall, lanky, mean rabbit" for a cartoon called "Hare-um Scare-um" -- and someone labeled the drawings "Bug's Bunny." Hardaway's mean rabbit was never used -- but the name was given to the bunny in the cartooon, "A Wild Hare."
PORKY PIG: According to creator Bob Clampett: "Someone thought of two puppies named Ham and Ex, and that started me thinking, So after dinner one night, I came up with Porky and Beans. I made a drawing of this fat little pig, which I named Porky, and little black cat named Beans."
ROCKY AND BULLWINKLE: Rocky was picked because it was "just a square-sounding kid's name. Bullwinkle was named after Clarence Bulwinkel, a Berkeley, California, used car dealer.
FOGHORN LEGHORN: Modeled after Senator Claghorn, a fictional politician in comedian Fred Allen's radio show.
So you're really that old, that you remember Fred Allen?