A number of Sun executives have expressed "disgust" over our use of the word "disgust" to describe Rich Green's state-of-mind when exiting Sun.

The Sun staffers reckon that Green, the public voice of Java, stayed on until the last possible minute, hashing out the final details of the Microsoft settlement. The deal with Redmond was the culmination of years of work for Green, fighting to make sure Java could thrive without Redmondian interference. Now, with $2bn in Sun's back pocket, Green could move on to a stealth start-up and give up the big company lifestyle.

"Rich Green was like a pappa of a newborn over the Microsoft deal," says one Sun worker.

Another Sun insider said Green was even a little "embarrassed" by our comments. And for this we apologize.

But, so far, Green has been as stealthy as the stealth company he left Sun for "several weeks ago". Sun has not put any media outlet in touch with Green, and the embarrassed chap has not sent one blushing email.

Green may well have left Sun under good terms, but Sun's hush-hush behavior about the exit is curious to be sure.

If anyone has actually spotted Green at this start-up, please let us know. Could it be Cassatt with a start date of 15 April? ®

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