In Robert's words, "You might have missed that Microsoft's stock has been in a freefall lately. My friends have been asking me 'why doesn't Wall Street believe Steve Ballmer?' That's an easy one. Cause he didn't convince the grass roots networks first. Ballmer should not listen to his PR team and instead should live the blogging way."

Later in the article he asked the question again and answers more poignantly: "So, why is Microsoft stock in freefall? Cause Ballmer didn't come to the grassroots and convince them that Microsoft's business strategy makes sense. We still haven't explained to the grassroots why Windows Vista matters. Or why spending $2 billion on server farms will make any sense to them. Or why the Xbox is going to be profitable."

"Freefall"?!! Why your next release matters?!! Why a $2 billion expenditure makes any sense? Why (and Wall Street hears "if") a major highly-touted venture is going to make any money? WOWeee!!

Fact is, MS experienced a 12 percent or so wind-shear sell-off directly after the April conference call. That's certainly huge. But a protracted "freefall?" No. It's not.

Don Dodge, Director of Business Development for Microsoft's Emerging Business Team, explains it unemotionally: "Microsoft management did a poor job of communicating to Wall Street, during the April 27 Q3 earnings conference call, that next year we plan to spend about $2 Billion more than analysts expected."

"It's actually a rational response," said Dodge. "The initial claim was additional spending of $1.5B to $2B. Wall Street applies a P/E multiple to earnings. P/E also gets applied to spending which results in lower earnings. The P/E was around 21 at the time, so 21 times $2B is $42B of market value."

After the correction, actually, the stock has been pretty much in sync with the NASDQ trend line. Well, it was. Thursday, it seems to have fallen below that considerably. Did Scoble have something to do with that? Apparently, Scoble thinks so. "Analysts watch what grass roots are saying. It drives a lot of buying decisions."

I don't know about that. But I will admit that this all certainly inspired a reaction in me. When I read his post, my jaw dropped, perfuse salivation ensued, a cold sweat ran down my spine, my limbs went numb and I experience some minor incontinence.

Imagine. Imagine a company spokesperson belly up to the world stadium dais and announce "Our CEO's a dink and that's why our stock is in the toilet. If you bought this paper a while ago you've definitely lost money. If you buy today, well... what can I tell ya. Sure I am holding on to mine but with Ballmer at the helm, it's a crap shoot." Was Robert drunk?

Well, drunk or not, I'll tell ya, as a lifelong MS stockholder, I thought Scoble's post was absolutely outrageous! Where's the fiduciary responsibility?!

But even if I weren't a shareholder, it still makes me uncomfortable for three basic reasons:

1. I am uncomfortable as it's kiss and tell. I mean Robert just recently announced that he was leaving MS. As such subsequent public discussions of intimate detail is... well... uncool. I'd feel just as comfortable if Robert, after announcing he was leaving his wife, wrote a blog entry on his opinions of vaginal farts (in the spirit of "transparency," of course). At the very least I'd bet that violates some "man rule." Gentlemen just wouldn't speak of it.

2. I am uncomfortable about Robert's post because it was just plain wrong. As few commentors were more specific: "Bullcrap;" "You're on crack."

3. I am uncomfortable with the self-aggrandizing hyperbole. Scoble is an MS blogger. Take out MS and nix the present hype over blogging and what are you left with? Not a lot. It is just another knucklehead journal on the on the net. Again, a commentor to his article hit the nail on the head: "Self-important navel gazers with too much time on their hands, um, I mean, 'grass roots influence networks' (god, just typing it makes me want to puke) don't amount to jack in the world of big business."

Now... imagine you're Ballmer. The image that immediately comes to my mind is General Dreedle (Orson Welles) in the movie Catch 22. I recall vividly the scene in the briefing room where an underling, a Major Danby, has stepped inadvertently out of line.

"Who is this man?" General Dreedle harrumphed.

"M-major Danby, sir," Colonel Cathcart stammered, "My group operations officer."

"Take him out and shoot him," Dreedle demanded.

"S-sir?"

"I said take him out and shoot him. Can't you hear?"

"Yes, sir!" Colonel Cathcart responded smartly, swallowing hard, and turned in a brisk manner to his chauffeur and his meteorologist. "Take Major Danby out and shoot him."

"S-sir?" his chauffeur stammered.

"I said take Major Danby out and shoot him," Colonel Cathcart snapped. "Can't you hear?"

"I think you'd better wait a minute," Colonel Moodus suggested hesitantly. "I don't think you can shoot him."

General Dreedle was infuriated by his intervention. "Who the hell says I can't?" he thundered pugnaciously in a voice loud enough to rattle the whole building. "Why the hell can't I? You mean I can't shoot anyone I want to? Is that a fact?" he inquired, his rage tamed by curiosity.

"Yes. I'm afraid it is."

"I guess you think you're pretty goddamn smart, don't you?"

THE LESSON HERE

One big one. Don't mess with the man with "fuck-you money." Ballmer's got it. That's the kind of money that can pretty much say "fuck you" to anyone he wants, and actually follow through with a well-fed well-equipped army.

Bloggers like Scoble believe that the internet has been the ultimate leveler. He actually thinks he's on the same level as Ballmer. That's a myth. Ballmer on the other hand thinks like a man with the smarts and resources of a Fortune 100 CEO. To him, Blogging is a mere annoyance... for now.

So does Ballmer want Scoble killed? Well, if he's even heard about Scoble's post, the thought likely crossed his mind momentarily. But no. Scoble's insignificance actually gives him a pass. For now.

UPDATE: THURSDAY'S SELL OFF

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Microsoft Corp. edged lower during after-hours trading Thursday after the company said founder and Chairman Bill Gates will transition out of his daily role in two years.

Note: no mention of Scoble.