Steven Sinofsky and Jon DeVaan just launched what promises to be a fascinating blog over the next year or so, as long as it's not overly managed by the PR crew.

"Engineering Windows 7" or E7 will be a channel for the Windows engineering bosses and team members to discuss the enormous project. It also has an evangelistic tinge, with the first entry promoting the upcoming PDC and WinHEC developer conferences.

The company that manages the personal investments of Bill Gates, Cascade Investment, just disclosed his stock holdings as of June 30.

Altogether it lists $4.3 billion in stock. The largest stake is $1.6 billion in Canadia National Railway.

Not included is Gates' Microsoft stock -- he recently dipped below 800,000,000 shares after selling several big batches over the past month. Also listed separately is $36.2 million worth of Berkshire Hathaway stock that's held by the Gates Foundation.

UPDATE: A knowledgeable reader pointed out that the report won't necessarily show all of Gates' investments. He only has to disclose holdings when they cross a certain percentage of a company's total shares.

Here's the list. Remember to add three zeroes to the value of the stock:

VanityKippah.com, the offbeat local startup launched last month by Shmuel Tennenhaus, is picking up steam.

The headgear made an appearance at a breakfast event in Pennsylvania with Eric Cantor, the Republican Congressman from Virginia rumored to be on McCain's short list of running mates.