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Bringing Up Bill

theodp writes "Over at the WSJ, Bill Gates Sr. describes what it took to turn an unruly 12-year-old into Microsoft's founder and the world's richest man. This included throwing a glass of cold water in the boy's face when he was having a particularly heated argument with his mother at the dinner table. 'He was nasty,' says Libby Armintrout, Bill's younger sister. 'I'm at war with my parents over who is in control,' Bill Gates recalls telling a therapist, who told his parents that their son would ultimately win the battle for independence, and their best course of action was to ease up on him. The rest, as they say, is history. The accompanying Gates Family Album is also worth a look."

9 of 169 comments (clear)

  1. Bill Gates is an Inspiration by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    He has made more money and pissed off more self-righteous nerds than I could ever hope to. Bill Gates is my hero.

  2. Re:Eeeep! by alienunknown · · Score: 5, Funny
    You mean this one?

    Isn't he dreamy?

  3. Perfect Qualities For.... by maz2331 · · Score: 4, Funny

    It sounds like the perfect qualities and personality for conquering an industry. Maybe we should be glad that he stayed out of law, or we could have ended up with a real control-freak president here.

  4. I guess the point of this would be by rastoboy29 · · Score: 3, Funny

    I guess ultimately Bill Gates, is just this guy, you know?

    1. Re:I guess the point of this would be by MichaelSmith · · Score: 2, Funny

      I guess ultimately Bill Gates, is just this guy, you know?

      Good to hear it from his brain care specialist.

  5. Re:Eeeep! by alienunknown · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm sorry. To show how sincere I am with my apology, here is a totally non-related picture.

  6. Re:How is this news? by El+Lobo · · Score: 3, Funny

    It's always Sunday for kdawson, friend.

    --
    It's time to realise that Abble's products are the biggest abomination these days. Just say NO to the dumb iAbble way!!
  7. Re:"at war with my parents over who is in control" by stonewallred · · Score: 3, Funny

    At risk of being modded down, I liked WindowsME. Once I got an update disc from Gateway it never BSoD on me again and worked flawlessly for five years. Only when my Gateway died, did I switch, and then to Windows 2000. I just went to XP a couple of years ago. Call me technologically conservative or non-geek, but I would rather run a tried, proven and fixed system and benefit from being a real late adopter, than be cutting edge. Cheaper and more reliable my way.

  8. Re:"at war with my parents over who is in control" by LordLimecat · · Score: 2, Funny

    Thats because the update disk contained windows 2000. Suprise!