Microsoft to Acquire Facebook? Why This Deal Would Make Sense

Rumor of the day: Microsoft (MSFT) to acquire Facebook for $6 Billion.

No, of course we can't confirm it. But it makes sense, don't you think? Steve Ballmer, desperate and furious, sick of sucking wind in the Internet game, sick of losing every Internet in-play company and much of the future to You Know Who, sick of feeling like a has-been also-ran, raiding the bank account and snapping up the hottest company on earth.

The fly in the ointment: $6 billion's a nice fat number, but it's only 1/25th of Google's valuation, and the Facebook folks clearly think they're worth more than that. So maybe Steve will have to throw in another $5 or $10. Or $20. Or maybe Mark Zuckerberg will just tell him to go...home.