Wouldn't you know it? Not three hours after we tell you that Apple's not going to advertise during the Super Bowl, MacOS Rumors goes and mentions that a "reliable source" has informed them otherwise. According to this source, Apple has actually bought two ad slots during the big game, during which it will probably show the new 15-second "Think Different" commercials featuring Muhammad Ali-- you remember, the ones that Steve Jobs showed during the November 10th brouhaha. This info, by the way, directly contradicts the words of Apple spokeswoman Rhona Hamilton (What? No Katie Cotton?), who stated in a ZDNet article that Apple wouldn't be spending the dough on the "outrageous" fees this year. (So if Rumors' source is right, he's better connected than Apple's own spokespeople.)

But that's not the interesting part. Rumors also has a translated excerpt from an unnamed Dutch newspaper (now that's getting obscure! Way to go, Rumors!) which details how, last month, an American film crew was filming a recreation of the Khmer Rouge revolution in Phnom Penh. So here's the interesting part: That recreation was filmed for a commercial for an "upon this time unknown software firm" (!) which was meant to be broadcast during the Super Bowl. Reportedly this commercial shows footage of famous revolutions in order to represent a "technological revolution," all as part of a "Think New Ideas" ad campaign. Sound like anyone we know?

Well, don't get too excited. Based on what AtAT's been able to dig up, the Khmer Rouge commercial probably isn't an Apple commercial (though it sure is a pretty obvious rip-off of Apple's "Think Different" style) after all. See, it wasn't just a goofy translation-- there really is a marketing agency called "THINK New Ideas," and they have a number of software companies on their client list. Among them are Netscape and-- get this-- Microsoft. So the real question is, which company is planning on showing such an Apple-like commercial during the Super Bowl? (If it's a Windows 98 commercial, we'll ralph.)

The Personnel Shuffle is still the dance of the day at Apple, at least if Mac the Knife is correct. The circuitous implement warns that the entire Apple sales department may be shown the door within the next two months, at which point a mysterious third party will be brought in to take over. Talk about a drastic change!

Now, presumably the good news about this move (assuming for a moment that it's true) is that it doesn't sound like a cost-cutting measure. We sense the implication that Apple's sales department isn't being as effective as some would hope, and is being given the heave-ho in a paradigm shift so severe it's got Steve Jobs' fingerprints all over it. Of course, if this is a Steve plan, then it's just as likely that he'll change his mind at least three times over the next two months (witness, for example, how many times the fate of Newton has shifted), so only time will if the sales department will stay or go.

Say what you like about Apple, but it sure ain't boring.

Just for the sake of perspective, we thought we'd point you towards the Reuters article which details the recent woes of hard-disk-manufacturer Seagate. Seagate, as you may know, is the world's largest manufacturer of hard drives, and right now they're taking a serious beating due to a glut in the market.

Seagate's restructuring includes such drastic measures as the closing of plants and design centers, "consolidation" of domestic media operations, and a significant reduction in its sales and marketing efforts all over the globe. What's the bottom line? 10,000 jobs cut. Yeah, that's only a 10% reduction, but man that's a lotta jobs.

While we feel bad about the people who are losing their positions, the cause of Seagate's woes (tumbling disk prices) is, sadly, a benefit to computer users like you and us. Recently we've seen 6.4GB 7200 RPM hard drives going for under $400, which is obscenely low. First RAM prices dropped like a stone, and now storage prices seem to be doing the same; what's next? CPU's?