Apple's Steve Jobs Caught In Obituary Oops

(CNET)  An electronic gaffe at news outlet Bloomberg mistakenly sent an incomplete obituary for Apple CEO Steve Jobs over the wire on Wednesday afternoon, and a tipster promptly sent the soon-retracted file to gossip blog Gawker.

The lengthy file contains not only a preliminary obituary for the iconic Apple chief, but also a list of suggested contacts for a more extensive story -- Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, and early Apple evangelist Guy Kawasaki, among others.

The summary of Jobs' accomplishments, per the obituary, is that he "helped make personal computers as easy to use as telephones, changed the way animated films are made, persuaded consumers to tune into digital music, and refashioned the mobile phone."

It's not out of the ordinary at all that Bloomberg would have this written; all major news outlets have notable persons' obituaries prepared in advance so that only minor changes need be made at the actual time of death. That way, the news can be reported almost immediately and can be updated with further detail.

But a Jobs obituary, however premature, is more chilling than, say, a Bill Gates obituary. The Apple CEO successfully battled pancreatic cancer earlier this decade, and a magazine profile indicated that he had kept it secret for nine months while researching alternative treatments -- a questionable move for any chief executive of a publicly traded company, but especially one as crucial to the runnings of the business as Jobs is.

When Jobs appeared onstage at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June 2008, his thin appearance led some bloggers and company critics to speculate that he was ill again, and some of them pushed the bounds of decency in demanding that Apple reveal the state of the executive's health to shareholders.

So given a CEO whose health has been discussed so speculatively in the echo chamber of the blogosphere, and whose company's stock has been shown to be far from immune to the influence of the rumor mill, the appearance--however brief--of a Jobs obituary online must certainly have been disquieting for those who stumbled upon it.

Bloomberg released a retraction later on Wednesday that made only the vaguest of reference to the content of the gaffe. "An incomplete story referencing Apple Inc. was inadvertently published by Bloomberg News at 4:27 p.m. New York time today," the retraction read. "The item was never meant for publication and has been retracted."

By Caroline McCarthy

[puzzler125]

Newspapers and wire services commonly have obituaries ready for politicians, celebrities, and other noted people. They are incomplete, of course, but contain the majority of information needed so that they do not have to be started from scratch when notified of a person''s demise.

[oneworldusa]

I think I goofed up trying to print the obit in 3 stages. Read the real thing at: http://www.legacy.com/TimesDispatch/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=18382676

[oneworldusa]

This was an obit published in the Richmond Times Dispatch who wrote his own obit before his death not knowing that soon he would be killed in an auto accident...look it up. It''s for real.

Part 1

Always an interested observer of politics, particularly what the process does to its participants, he was amused by politician''s outrage when we lie to them and amazed at what the voters would tolerate. His final wishes were "throw the bums out and don''t elect lawyers" (though it seems to make little difference). During his life he excelled at mediocrity. He loved to hear and tell jokes, especially short ones due to his limited attention span. He had a life long love affair with bacon, butter, cigars and bourbon. You always knew what Fred was thinking much to the dismay of his friend and family. His sons said of Fred, "he was often wrong, but never in doubt". When his family was asked what they remembered about Fred, they fondly recalled how Fred never peed in the shower - on purpose. He died at MCV Hospital and sadly was deprived of his final wish which was to be run over by a beer truck on the way to the liquor store to buy booze for a double date to include his wife, Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter to crash an ACLU cocktail party. In lieu of flowers, Fred asks that you make a sizable purchase at your local ABC store or Virginia winery (please, nothing French - the *censored*) and get rip roaring drunk at home with someone you love or hope to make love to.

[oneworldusa]

Part 1 and 1/2

Frederic Arthur (Fred) Clark, who had tired of reading obituaries noting other''s courageous battles with this or that disease, wanted it known that he lost his battle as a result of an automobile accident on June 18, 2006. True to Fred''s personal style, his final hours were spent joking with medical personnel while he whimpered, cussed, begged for narcotics and bargained with God to look over his wife and kids. He loved his family. His heart beat faster when his wife of 37 years Alice Rennie Clark entered the room and saddened a little when she left. His legacy was the good works performed by his sons, Frederic Arthur Clark III and Andrew Douglas Clark MD, PhD., along with Andy''s wife, Sara Morgan Clark. Fred''s back straightened and chest puffed out when he heard the Star Spangled Banner and his eyes teared when he heard Amazing Grace. He wouldn''t abide self important tight *censored*.

[oneworldusa]

Part 2
Word of caution though, don''t go out in public to drink because of the alcohol related laws our elected officials have passed due to their inexplicable terror at the sight of a MADD lobbyist and overwhelming compulsion to meddle in our lives. No funeral or service is planned. However, a party will be held to celebrate Fred''s life. It will be held in Midlothian, Va. Email [e-mail] for more information. Fred''s ashes will be fired from his favorite cannon at a private party on the Great Wicomico River where he had a home for 25 years. Additionally, all of Fred''s friend (sic) will be asked to gather in a phone booth, to be designated in the future, to have a drink and wonder, "Fred who?"

[barbaraf4]

My father wrote his own obituary. Obviously prior to his actual death, but he wanted to make sure that everyone knew how wonderful and successful he had been. It is a full page litany of self-congratulatory ***. It was published and I still get embarrassed everytime I think about it.

[sociald63]

that would explain why goodwill has a sale on ipods

[psk123-2009]

Not many people have the surprised privilege to read their own obit.

[questionnews]

He should have clipped or printed that obituary and quickly send it to all his creditors.

[tmn]

Perhaps he really is sick again, and someone was working on the obit to keep it current for near future use...