The Yahoo Kerfuffle

It's a failing enterprise.

But that didn't keep legions of know-it-alls, moms and corporate experts who don't work at Yahoo and probably never visit the site or use any of its tools, from crucifying Marissa Mayer. Saying she's too cute, too into designer clothing, and a one percenter who built a private nursery for her newborn child adjacent to her office.

Ain't that America. A bunch of blowhards weighing in on other people's business. We're a nation of gossips. And if you listen to the blowback, if you care what people have to say, you're doomed. Because they're never satisfied, they won't be happy until they drag you down into the hole they're in.

Which is why we've become a nation of apologists.

One person gets her knickers in a twist and the offender rushes to the media to say they didn't mean it. It's become laughable. With people going to lying rehab, I never even knew there was such a thing. But in a nation where no one can sacrifice, where no one can lose their job, where no one can suffer whatsoever, that's what we end up with.

You can't raise taxes.

You can't reduce entitlements.

You can't change a damn thing because someone's gonna get the short end of the stick.

Shared sacrifice is out the window. Thinking of the greater good is history. America is all about I've got mine, SCREW YOU!

But unlike the challenged Tim Cook, Marissa Mayer had the true story leaked. And now everybody's shut up, moved on to the next meaningless debate that fascinates our populace as the rich rape and pillage.

Bottom line?

This was about 200 people. Who were working from home. Many of whom were not doing their work. Some of whom had begun their own start-ups on the side.

How did Marissa know?

THE DATA! She checked the VPN logs and found out the truth!

But no one's interested in the truth in America. They'd rather wrangle perception. Try to skew things their way when it's far from reality. We've been hearing forever that piracy has decimated the music business and must be stopped. First by suing users, second by having ISPs send notices to offenders.

What a bunch of b.s.

The NPD report said there was a 26% decline in illegally downloaded music last year. Why, BECAUSE OF LEGAL SERVICES! (http://bit.ly/XXVjoG)

Do you understand?

Progress can't be stopped, and if you want to win, you've got to swallow the pill and change too.

But people would rather see you fail than tolerate your changing.

And you're going to get shouted down by record store owners and everybody else who was plowed under by the future.

It's insane.

Stop listening to the rabble-rousers. They know not of what they speak.

Kind of like the Amanda Palmer kerfuffle. It wasn't her fans complaining, but interlopers wanting to make a point who understood nothing about her business.

Life is hard. If you live it the way everybody else wants you to, it's nigh near impossible.

As for Marissa Mayer utilizing data to make decisions...

Creativity is not about data.

But success is.

We measure it in tracks sold, YouTube videos watched... If your numbers are not high and growing, it's a sign to take another direction. Yahoo already made it. You didn't. You think you can create success through smoke and mirrors. But that paradigm is passe.

But screw the music business.

I just hate it that everybody's such an expert about everybody's business. That ignorance rules the land. That truth won't be swallowed, even when it's proven by facts.

We live in a land of emotion.

But emotion only works when it's in art.

And that's why today's art is lacking. It's got no soul. It's just wannabes who want to compete with Marissa Mayer and the other educated people who earned their place at the top of corporate America by hard work and smarts.

You don't win by accident.

But what we've got to do is create more winners. Lift our brothers and sisters from ignorance and poverty to a better life.

Instead, we feed them TV trials and misinformation.

Oh, what a wonderful world we live in.

P.S. Credit Kara Swisher for getting the story rolling in AllThingsD: http://dthin.gs/13l4hBB

Then the Business Insider amplified the story: http://read.bi/YJozil

Ultimately, the "New York Times" wrote the definitive statement: http://nyti.ms/WJgaKh

How many know the truth? Probably few, since the correction never has the impact of the initial event. And everyone's moved on, what do you think, is Jodi Arias guilty?

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