Without a doubt, the most necessary skill required in perusing the daily news – be it tech, world events, or heck, fashion – is the art of critical thinking.  This morning, Reuters is offering a story describing Bill Gates’ close watch over his children’s computer and video game time.  It’s a soft little read, not unlike something that might wrap up an otherwise depressing big city newscast, but at the same time it's just a bit peculiar.  It may be the most propaganda-laden piece printed in a while.

The story revolves around the Microsoft founder’s tech restrictions on his 10 year old daughter, who Gates says recently “became very avid and discovered a lot of computer games, including one that runs on the Xbox 360 called Viva Pinata”.  Most of you will be aware that Microsoft is behind the Xbox 360 console, but it’s also worth pointing out that the company’s own Microsoft Game Studios crafted Viva Pinata.

In addition, the report details Bill and wife Melinda’s limits on their daughter’s internet time.  Reuters blabs that “Microsoft’s new Vista software enables parents to control the Web sites their kids go to…[and] also includes an audit log that records sites they have visited and whom they’ve been Instant Messaging.”

Wow, Vista sure is great. 

I don’t disagree that Microsoft needs to make the public aware of Vista’s best features (ASAP), but having Reuters wrap a neat little story around the founder’s family seems a bit ridiculous, don’t you think?