As Sinofsky departs Microsoft, the wits flood Twitter

Observers describe Steven Sinofsky as many things -- brilliant, arrogant, abrasive, demanding -- check out this terrific profile my CNET colleague Jay Greene did in October -- but who would have thought the departing Windows boss would inspire such an outpouring of Twitter wit (Twit?). Within minutes of this evening's surprise announcement that Sinofsky had left Microsoft immediately, the wisenheimers flooded the transom with their apercus. The following is just a sample:

Overheard (made up by me) ... Sinofky was having an affair with Mrs. Petreaus ...cc @adamnash and @owenthomas

— howardlindzon (@howardlindzon) November 13, 2012

For the record I have requested my epitaph read "he left to pursue other interests"

— Michael Gartenberg (@Gartenberg) November 13, 2012

My understanding is that Sinofsky *also* refused to sign the apology letter for Apple's Maps app.

— Tom Reestman (@treestman) November 13, 2012

What did #Sinofsky know about Broadwell and Petraeus in Benghazi, via Kelley?Just sayin.... ;-)

— jholston (@jholston) November 13, 2012

>> @franksting: Must Microsoft follow Apple in EVERYTHING now? #forstall #sinofsky

— Lars Trieloff (@trieloff) November 13, 2012

@dsilverman "You idiot! You were supposed to can the head of the Microsoft stores, too!"

— Ross Rubin (@rossrubin) November 13, 2012

Google to hire Forstall and Sinovsky to head up new Buggy Code division

— Ashlee Vance (@valleyhack) November 13, 2012

Once again, Mr. Sinofsky has established that no one but no one knows how to keep a secret like he does. Opsec FTW.

— Ed Bott (@edbott) November 13, 2012

Man, Microsoft Copies EVERYTHING Apple Does. bit.ly/ZjaoT3

— Walt Mosspuppet (@mosspuppet) November 13, 2012

Not even kidding: I bet Steven Sinofsky and Scott Forstall could do a great start-up together. They'd have disruptive covered.

— Farhad Manjoo (@fmanjoo) November 13, 2012