Happy 4th of July! In honor of the holiday weekend, we're doing things a bit differently in this week's newsletter and rounding up some our best long reads from the past month. So whether you're at the beach, in the mountains or just plotzing on your in-laws' lawn, you've got an unimpeachable excuse to relax and read - if anyone gives you any guff about it, tell'em to talk to me!
Better yet, share your favorite story with your friends and family and boost your cachet as the in-the-know tech cognoscente with the best links.
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A tale of two Bills
For years, Bill Gates has enjoyed a squeaky clean reputation as a quirky-but-friendly billionaire philanthropist, and one half of the perfect couple working to save the world through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
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Some of that reputation began to unravel earlier this year, following news of the couple's divorce. In this story, Insider looks at the other side of Bill Gates; the side that's been been assiduously effaced by an army of PR handlers over the years.
Why a broken internet-connected pet feeder is a warning we should all take seriously
What happens when the startup that makes your internet-connected pet feeder goes kaput?
Insider's Becky Peterson learned the hard way when her cat Dewey launched a noisy revolt against the device's decision to withhold his rations of morning kibble.
The Linux aging crisis and the re-education of Linus Torvalds
When I contacted Linus Torvalds over email, he had just gotten his power and internet back after an ice storm in Portland, Oregon, where he lives. I asked him whether he was available for a video interview, and he replied that, "I absolutely abhor video chats in all forms, and these days obviously face-to-face isn't an option either."
I proposed a phone interview instead. "Heh, no, my abhorrence covers phone calls too. Nasty things, phones. Except as quick email devices."
Mixing showmanship, bravado and an assortment of media megaphones,Jason Calacanis has built a one-man brand that touts the glory of tech startups with infomercial-like zeal - and casts him as the astute coach, talent agent, promoter, and gatekeeper to achieving success in the game.
Insider spoke with more than 50 people close to Calacanis, including portfolio-company founders, accelerator alumni, current and former colleagues and rival investors, to learn what it's like for a generation of young aspiring entrepreneurs heeding his call to change the world.
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