I sent a very personal note to Steve Jobs about this on Monday. I didn't hear back. I did get a call from someone at Apple asking about what it was I was working on, in relation to these executives and Jobs health status. I confided in this person that if they had read my email to Jobs, they knew what I had. I informed Apple that we were going to try to gather more information, but would like to give Apple, and Jobs, a chance to come forward to respond. That was yesterday. I wanted to give it just a little more time. Apple had to be aware that if colleagues this close to Jobs were beginning to emerge from the shadows to speak to me, chances were very good that these sources and others would be talking to others as well.

I'm not saying we forced Apple's hand, but I'm sure it contributed in some small way to the release tonight, especially since it was merely a week ago when Jobs issued his other release, ending that one tersely, "So now I've said more than I wanted to say, and all that I am going to say, about this." It appears now that he wanted to say a little more before those around him began saying it for him.

For what it's worth, I believe that Jobs' health issues are a moving target, indeed hard to pin down, and that it is very likely that its status has changed and evolved since his initial diagnosis in 2004. When Jobs said he didn't know what was wrong, I think he believed it; that it was based on fact. I believe him when he says that up until recently, and only after those sophisticated tests, did doctors really understand what was wrong with him. I believed, and continue to believe, my sources who told me that Jobs was still in charge, no matter his health status.

What I'm having deep difficulty with is what has transpired this past week. Last week's note may have been true, but I'm having enormous issues believing his note this week. There's more than an air of dishonesty about it. Maybe it's because I believe he released it only after realizing there was a media missile pointed directly at Cupertino and he was trying to get out ahead of the story rather than mopping up after it. Apple's strategy about all this has been curious from the get-go. Not such a surprise when everything centers around such a mercurial guy.

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I just can't help but believe that bright sunlight kills all germs, and all this company had to do was be upfront with everyone from the beginning. Not telling us what we all wanted to know. But what we needed to know. Apple could have broken new ground on this front, ignited a new realm of transparency. Instead, it chose a different path. And shareholders, fans, and the Apple community are paying the price.

That's too bad. I truly hope that Jobs comes back when he says he will, in June. But realistically, even though he says otherwise, I'm not banking on it.  

Questions?  Comments? 

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