"Throwing salt" can also be used to mean "casting dispersions", as it were. I think the article tosses a bunch of salt towards Bill Gates, but who knows what the motivation was. I'm guess when properly confused, you might just throw some salt for luck, and end up looking salty yourself. :)

Edit: I'm talking about the author throwing salt, not any of the posters here.

I have to do this! I believe you mean "casting aspersions."