Licensing 6.0.Need I say more?

The promotion for open source extends way beyond these examples, but I think they are enough to demonstrate that this campaign is both very real and very effective. Indeed, there have been so many recent stories about governments and high-profile companies switching to Linux and open source that one can see that this campaign is working beautifully.

The mastermind

Clearly, someone at Microsoft is orchestrating this and doing so with finesse. I believe I know not only who is responsible, but also that this person has a secret identity.

Here goes. The man behind the scenes is none other than Steve Ballmer. Ballmer has several characteristics that make him unique among Microsoft's leaders. He is friendly, funny, relaxed, enjoyable to be around and — most telling, since it is completely uncharacteristic of Microsoft — he is often honest. Indeed, he once said in front of a roomful of InfoWorld editors that OS/2 was better than Windows 95.

I suspect that Steve Ballmer not only knows that Linux is superior to Windows but that the open-source model is preferable to the ultra-protected intellectual-property model that Microsoft employs. Therefore, it makes sense that he is conducting a secret campaign to promote Linux and open source by pulling the strings of managers and programmers to make Microsoft as undesirable a choice as possible.

It takes extraordinary genius to pull this off without the rest of the company suspecting it, and that was my clue as to Steve Ballmer's secret identity. Please do not be misled by a joke I posted on VarLinux.org, my non-profit Web site, about Ballmer's identity (see "The false secret identity of Steve Ballmer" in Resources below). The only purpose that claim served was to get a laugh.

Consider the theme song below as my final piece of evidence. The song doesn't just describe Steve Ballmer and Bill Gates perfectly; it even details the core mission of their company, Microsoft. Most importantly, it identifies Steve Ballmer as "a genius," a title fitting for one who could orchestrate a marketing campaign such as the one I have identified above. The song also hints at a reason why Bill Gates has thus far failed to discover that Steve Ballmer is working contrary to the company's mission.

If my guess is right, then Steve Ballmer is an alias, and the person we know as Steve Ballmer is known elsewhere as "The Brain." In addition, his companion, Bill Gates, otherwise known as "Pinky," handpicked Steve. And now, the evidence:

They're Pinky and The Brain
Yes, Pinky and The Brain
One is a genius
The other's insane.
They're laboratory mice
Theirgenes have been spliced
They're dinky
They're Pinky and The Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain
Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain
Brain.
Before each night is done
Theirplan will be unfurled
By the dawning of the sun
They'll take over the world.

They're Pinky and The Brain
Yes, Pinky and The Brain
Their twilight campaign
Is easy to explain.
To prove their mousey worth
They'll overthrow the Earth
They'redinky
They're Pinky and The Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain
Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain
Narf!

Coincidence?You decide.