It's a Pro Bono case ...

Talking about Pro Bono ... isn't it a rare commodity in a material world?

But there's always hope ...
U2 anchor Bono has had one of his busiest years in recent times both on and off the music circuits:organizing Live 8, being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, wooing the World Bank, induction into the Rock Hall of Fame, rocking the Grammys, ... he has been through it all on the center stage of the world.

But that's not all- the U2 band members were also awarded Amnesty International's highest human rights accolade -- the "Ambassador of Conscience" Award for 2005.

And now Bono's on the cover of the Time, swanked on both sides by Bill and Melinda.

The How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb singer shared cover space with the Gates, who Time praised for building the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the world's largest philanthropic organization. The foundation has a $29 billion endowment and, according to the magazine, has spent 2005 "giving more money away faster than anyone ever has." Courtesy e-online.

Bill and Melinda Gates were in India recently when they showered their generosity upon the young and the talented, while taking care of the usual business. Gates and his wife, Melinda, have created a $24 billion world wide fund whose main purpose is to bridge the disparity in health care between poor and rich countries. The complete details of their recent visit to India can be found here.

But right now, ... Bono is the man on a Mission. And I'm sure he is the man to look out for in the coming years as the world undergoes a massive transformation- politically, geographically, spiritually and of course electronically. Salon.com quotes "Over two decades, U2's leader has evolved from heart-on-his-sleeve idealist to irony-drenched rock 'n' roll Liberace to hopeful pragmatist."

Meanwhile talking about wealth, have you heard this ...

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Ingvar Kamprad, the Swede who founded furniture retail chain IKEA, has overtaken Microsoft's Bill Gates as the world's richest man, Swedish TV news reported on Sunday.

Citing next week's edition of the Swedish business weekly Veckans Affarer, public service SVT2 television said Kamprad, 77, has a personal fortune of 400 billion crowns ($53 billion).

Gates's fortune is put at $47 billion, according to the latest list of the world's rich in U.S. Forbes magazine, SVT2 said.

Kamprad, known for frugal habits such as flying economy class, lives in Switzerland and no longer takes part in the daily running of IKEA, but has kept ownership of the company with more than 180 stores in over 30 countries in the family.

SVT2 said the dollar's slide against other currencies is the main reason why Kamprad has now overtaken Gates.

But more on furniture, home decor and IKEA some other time ...