IP: I knew it was a conspiracy...

[Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

This came to me via a usually good source along with the comment 


Makes sense to me.


I am passing it along in light of the LA Times article reported in 


Subject: IP: Microsoft Plans Stealth Blitz to Mend Its Image 


It has a smack of truth and to quote an IPer


"So, wouldn't you do that if you were MS?" in response to the Stealth Blitz


So you decide


Dave








> From:  XXXXXX
> Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 15:52:32 EDT
> To: YYYY
> Mime-Version: 1.0
> Subject: Re:  Fwd: "Barkto" incident & Gates Pie In Face
>
> Regarding the Bill Gates pie in the face incident in Belgium:
>
> Word is that this, too, was a Microsoft arranged publicity stunt designed to
> make Bill appear more human, more vulnerable. Tipped about the upcoming US
> Justice department actions coming down against Microsoft, Bill's handlers had
> heard about the pie guy, and for a tidy sum retained his services.
>
> They are indeed masters of synchronized publicity, as all the international
> media video cameras were rolling at the time of the incident - a mere
entrance
> to the main event.
>
> Even Bill's droll comment about the pie not tasting very good had been
> scripted in advance.
>
> Slow motion video analysis of the incident reveals that Bill was not
flinching
> or ducking at the moment he was hit. He knew it was coming all along.
>
> Score one for the Big Guy!