We're about to enter that happiest time of the year, at least if you're a banker. But this year, things are a little different. Oh, the sizes of the bonuses haven't dropped off. In fact, signs point to an even bigger payout explosion than before. But, as banks get the big paychecks ready, they're also scrambling to spin the issue as best they can.

Four in 10 Americans believe that the next Bill Gates would come from India or China as the US struggles to regain its competitiveness in the face of gains by India, China and Brazil, a new survey shows. 'When asked where the 'next Bill Gates will come from,' 40 percent of Americans predicted either India or China,'.