There've been a bunch of Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates interviews appearing all over the Web today, timed to drop at the start of Comdex. But none was as surprising as this USA Today one. Gates claims that, contrary to several reports, Microsoft did not make overtures toward Google. Of course, Gates, more than anyone at Microsoft should know if Microsoft approached Google. That said, we're parsing Gates' words for a loophole here (did he mean "never ever" or "just not this year" ever?). If Microsoft truly did not pursue Google regarding a possible acquisition, someone in Microsoft's competitive analysis department is not doing his/her homework.