Transcript
I'm as officially an anti-vaxxer today live. Oh wow. Starting us hot well she's anti-education anti-universe. I think she thinks she thinks universities are creating leftists live from the part of the globe. That's not a golf course. That's, this is the last part left. It's a delicious pile. A Biz nuggets joined as always by edgy, Emma lurking and Melonie. I'm an irritating stain. I know. I'm agree with that. Yeah that's true. Today I really am though. I was thinking about yesterday during our conversation I was so I was so eager to cut everyone off because I thought I had brilliant points but really I was a mess and I think I really am an irritating stain. There you go. Today in our recently dry cleaned duffel bag of nuggets called January 19th. 2022. Even more Microsoft. Activision Barbie coaching nonsense. Oh, This should be the last day of it taxing millionaires, metaverse museums and Emma gets oddly regulatory. Okay, I don't know. I only talk about Emma, but I'm confused. I'm kind of bored to it already. I'm looking forward to, you will be neither confused nor bored when I'm done with you. Haha, no, conversation today after the show. So if unless you're fiber, if you want to interrupt and say something do it during during my stories, okay, no conversation. Okay, ready? Yep. here, the first story in New York Times how Microsoft bought Activision Blizzard and by the way, I'm the genius here, Matt. As always, Matt, as always says, everything I say is wrong, but this is exactly how I told you it happened. Here's the reporting New York Times. The Blockbuster deal for the video game maker came together quickly and opportunistically, Microsoft seized on activism troubles. In December with Activision stock down. Sharply Microsoft reached out to kotak with a takeover bid They did supposedly look into workplace accusations and determined that they were largely in the past and that the controversy was was manageable manageable. And here's the, here's the Nugget that I think we all might like I know the people working at Activision, Blizzard of like coatic is expected to step down once the deal closes. Money. How much. But what's the important part of the story? What are the New York Times miss that? This ESG bailout is only possible, because shares and Activision. Blizzard are completely normal, one share, one vote. How boring and no dictators in sight Bobbi despite being the co-founder held less than 1% of companies, shares, you're welcome stakeholders. Maybe that can be our lawsuit to end this nonsense, dual-class, dictatorships impede, the rights of stakeholders. Wow, that's a mouthful of that. You're wrong. No, and you bored me with those words. Some other tidbits and an interview with CNBC coaching said the deal came through after he realized Microsoft had the technology to push Activision forward. In the burgeoning competition between tech companies to build a metaverse, blah, blah, blah blah, you liar, you're a liar, he's such a lie and everyone knows it. Stop it. I just come on. You just taking the bucket to cash from a conference call with Bobbi and a bunch of Microsoft Executives. I did the counting, how many mentions of Stakeholders walk out, sexual harassment frat, boy culture. Cosby Suite lawsuits assault, rape litigation. How many mentions two Negative one. I mean you're very optimistic. Today, of course, it's zero. How many metaverse mentions? How many times they say the word metaverse 14. God, don't tell me close 11. Yes, 11 meters mention. Uh, know they, of course, did not explicitly mention. What's really going on and Activision Blizzard? It's all completely coated. Here's WhatsApp. And Nadella said, I want to wrap by talking briefly about a vital factor, that underlies all the opportunities I've talked about culture, Briefly a CEO of Microsoft, the culture. Of our organization is my number one priority blah blah blah. This is hard work, it requires consistency commitment and Leadership that not only talks the talk but walks the walk translation Bobby sucks. Oh come on that's it translation. I'm telling translation of the translation is Bobby sucks and we're going to pay him off and he'll be gone, okay? But yes is falling necessarily. It. No, they are gonna pay him. Such a bringing up the incredibly vital Factor briefly at the wrap. And all this is why women is left in this discussion. I would like to briefly discuss the most important thing of the entire the reason why we were able to buy this company which is the Rappin Like Bobby. That's how it came up. Yeah, Bobby did not explicitly address it either. He said, Microsoft's culture of inspiring people through caring and empathy is a powerful motivator. And one we Embrace as we renew our resolve in the work, we're now doing to set a new standard for a welcoming and inclusive. Workplace culture translation. I can't handle this shit. So I'm bailing on a gold plated yacht. That's a correct translation that was That was some words salad, right there. I I actually I think we need to go back to Damien and I played this, this is pre. Emma, lurking. Pre are the data pre, I'm looking. I feel sad about that me too. I know there was a time before where we played a game, where you posed, an issue facing the company and I pretended to be a CEO giving you a salad about. Yeah, it was great. We should do a CEO word salad. Let's do that. Well, Matt, I will say we're, we're at the point now, where we have so many hundreds of shows, literally, the, I don't even remember anything. I don't remember what you talking. We that sounds great. We do, we have like the same number of five downloads per episode and 350 shows. Yeah, the right. Bobby Bobby also sent a message to his staff. This is all, these are all filed with the SEC. If you're curious. He how many mentions of stakeholders walk out? Sexual harassment, report culture, Cosby Suite, lost rape, litigation in that message zero, right? Of course, zero. But how many meters? Bobbi, mentioned the Met. First. Yeah, it's closed. Emma, you're good at this game, three. Thank you. So at least we're on the right side of History here, he said Microsoft will. Also Microsoft also will support our journey to further strengthen our culture. I see culture is the I guess it's the new code word for ESG or I don't know what's called. What is it called for? That's I think it's code for not right. I agree translation translation. I hate all this woke shit. Let them do it. Yeah. He also warned Transactions. Like these can take a long time to complete, which we expected to be sometime 2023 maybe within a year and a half. When you translation. Hold your breath bitches, you're creepy, Uncle 8 dead yet. I, I do like that all of the coded stuff with culture happened at the wrap of the call, the most vital factor and Microsoft, will also support our journey, like, oh PS. We're gonna add on some support for a raping this, well, you know, Well Done always, you know, for a long time, we have called Microsoft the adult in the room. Have we not? So what? What a more fitting, what a more fitting acquisition? I'm serious like this. I think this is a win for, for free float, media. Only, like, I just this encapsulates, all the weird stuff that we spend. I gotta write here. I got a hard-hitting journalistic, question for the listeners of free float media. That I'm gonna post to Emma, Emma better or worse. If Apple bought Activision Blizzard, Oh she's thinking about it. I I think her brain just exploded. I think it too. She come back at the end. Come back again. Give your answer think as we go I didn't think she had hate for anyone of them. Here's the next story for you. More than 100 millionaires. Released a letter yesterday begging. In fact, I did it. Pretty please tax us more. The letter was actually directed to the attendees of the world economic Forum meeting happening. Virtually instead of in Davos this year Davos is the Swiss Town made of gold leaf chocolate where Millionaires and billionaires discuss how the world needs saving by someone. We'll find someone right, someone can do that. Just got to be someone. Put out a one at. Here's a quote from the letter titled intact We Trust. Trust in politics and society. And one another is not built in tiny side rooms, only accessible by the very richest and most powerful. It's not built by billionaire space. Travelers who make a fortune out of a pandemic, but pay almost nothing in taxes and provide poor wages for their workers. And it goes on to say, quote, the Bedrock of a strong democracy is fair. Tax system, Affair tax system. There were 102 millionaire signatories to the letter and it ends with this nugget, which is maybe the quote of the year. So far quotes, all the private talks won't change what's coming? It's taxes or pitchforks? Well, they're clearly listeners to us. This is our, this is our line. The reasoning here. Well, what? Capitalism is Alive and Well, Larry. So screw you and not saying it's not woke, but who are these 102 benevolent millionaires just asking hey begging to give their well to governments for the benefit of the people. I have your answer. They're women estimates over the last five years, suggests that about 85 to 90% of global millionaires are men everywhere you look is a sausage festival. Except this letter true percent of the signatories are women. I went millionaire by millionaires to make sure So while 24% of the attendees at Davos last year were women, I'm sure Count, Olaf, good whose father handed him, the keys to the sprocket. Factory Spends His Mornings and Mountaintop chalets drinking important unicorn tears. I'm sure he's moved by a bunch of shrill. Women millionaires asking for more taxes Davos kicked off, two days ago. And so far, no one cares. Good. What? What is a cow? Oh good. That a real thing, count. Good. Yeah. Lord of the Rings inherited the sprocket Factory. Obviously. Damien. Keep up. She says, Emma. Help me. I will listen. Yes. Oh the fiber of our conversation, getting dirty here. As the dark in Chief of free float media, it does feel like my duty to report on the regulatory news of the day, you're the opposite of that. What's the opposite Mark in the guy? Underneath the 95 overpass? That's Emma's. Okay, so here's your regulatory tidbit number one today. Democrats introduced Bill to stop big tech companies from targeting you with creepily specific ads online three Democratic legislators introduce the Banning surveillance advertising act. That would ban companies known as advertising facilitators like meta in Google from targeting ads to certain people, you're a victim of this. I'm a victim of this, this exists. This is their profit model. So there are two exceptions to this band one, you can Target ads based on geographical location and two you can Target ads to be placed next to specifically specific internet content. So they just know where you are in the stuff you like perfect. The element of this bill that map might shit on but I think is actually very exciting is that it would Empower individual citizens to bring civil action against any organization. They believed to be breaking the band. I think this is good. I want to see a bunch of people start suing met in Google. But met in Google, have taken some pretty pitiful measures to preempt this kind of regulation. In March of 2021, Google announced that it would stop tracking individual users browsing data and meta announced that it would restrict targeted ads based on sensitive characteristics, like Health sexual orientation, religion, and politics. Thank God. They're not tracking my sensitive information anymore. It'll just be like where I live, you know. I want to talk more about Damien. Sensitive information to Matt's point, three the three, the three legislators who brought this to women in a black man. Correct diversity. Yeah, winning still win all of your winning all day long. Yes. All right, Damien. Let's hear some more. Let's wrap up the Activision talk. Come on. Activision's. CEO is looking at 375 Million Dollar Payday in Microsoft sale. Uh, but well like that much. But wait, that's Bobby said in October, I don't know if you guys remember this, I do you covered it. Here's the quote. I have asked our board of directors to reduce my total conversation to 62500 until the board has determined that we have achieved the transformational gender-related goals and other commitments described above to be clear. This is a reduction in My overall conversation not just my salary. I am asking not to receive any bonuses or be granted, any Equity during this time, so that should nullify that payout, right? Because, you know here's what here's what Activision is supposed to achieve before he gets any more big bucks, launching a new Zero Tolerance harassment Paul's company wide increasingly percentage of women and non-binary people in our Workforce. By 50% getting rid of required, arbitration of sexual harassment and discrimination claims increasing. The visibility on page equity and providing regular progress. Updates, including data on gender hiring, diversity hiring and workplace progress. You ain't about to achieve all that Bobby. So we're all expecting you to gracefully decline. Your massive payout. Am I wrong here? Matt? Well it depends. He's gonna have to gracefully decline. Microsoft has all the same some of the same goals and is achieving them. So, can Bobby say, well, now I'm a part of Microsoft, and they've achieved, welcome to step down obviously decline. I know you're gonna do the right thing, Bobby, you are what he already owned shares. Worth about 375 million dollars. You don't need another 30075. And let's not forget shareholders, are already think your pay sucks? 10 out of the last 11 years to be precise. And this was even before they're repugnant, workplace culture, finding the real story here. Once again, is how the hell did Bobby survive all this? Let's remind our audience. Pay your pace sucks. Because the pay committee is by Robert Morgado, who has been on your board since 1997. That's too long, a relationship older than maybe all of Bobby's children. I couldn't quite figure it out my internet searching, but that's a pretty significant relationship. You do the emotional math on 1997, that's a long one. I like a mother too. The other reason he still around his. Trusty sidekick in broseph. Brian Kelly who owns over 125 million dollars of Activision stock, and co-founder of the company with Bobbi back in 1991 even before Harry Styles was born. No, it's too early. That guy is not gonna fire you. So remember that's the that's the important takeaway here. Kotick, the modern Dennis muilenburg. Keep keep talking, Dennis. Muilenburg was a CEO of Boeing oversaw, the crashes and the development of the max 8 planes that crashed drown his board consisted of the caterpillar three is what we call them at the time. It was Denny, it was current CEO, Dave, Calhoun and Susan Schwab who all sat on the caterpillar board together, so it was really a mire of accountability having on that board. They all knew each other. We there was a giant incest pool and the planes crash and they did not fire. Yeah, for like nine months or almost a year. Sure tick it. All breaks they will not fire kotek and serious. Yes, Congratulations to say answer is yes. You are the Boeing of video games. I'm just gonna read this next headline for you, is going to be a somber moment. Well, meta wants to track your eye movements and facial expressions as you roam. The metaverse patents suggests meta, as in Zuckerberg Facebook. Now, I will remind you that meta is, in fact, a College, Dropout who made his billions rating hot girls and trying to get laid. Nick Clegg who you might know as Facebook's head of something. But also, he's the fail to UK politician. Turn Facebook bootleg. He said, the technology might Be used to say, give your eye data to advertisers, so they can track quote engagement or use your facial expressions to understand how much are you feel about being called the n-word by a tabby cat with a unicorn horn, hanging out by an nft sale by people in decentraland? I would like to take the rest of my time with this story to just have a moment of silence for the death of humanity. Let's take this moment too, to consider it. Workers, can I break this Moment of Silence by by admitting something that we all missed here. Is that what we didn't know that? We just discovered this morning, Bobby kotick, the Beloved Bobby kotick, or is it the heinous? I don't remember which I don't remember which adjectives applies but how they needed him. Dated Facebook Sheryl Sandberg for three years. How about that power couple, how did we miss this? But they broke up in 2019 and they are no more. I know but still we should I just feel like we gotta do better as a team. It's very imagined the automaton conversations they might have had Hey, how are you? Fucking your employees today? I'm pretty royalty. How about, you know, there's some rapist stuff going on. So they're mostly fucking each other. Oh, like what? Matt saying that note. Here Comes regulatory. Tidbit number two. Apple and Google are pleading with us. Lawmakers not to pass Anti-Trust. Regulation challenging app, stores, and search. I like this headline because I like this headline right off the bat because I like the image of Hot Shots at Google and apple pleading with the government to let them stay in off please. Basically. So here are the two bills. 20 year long, please write pretty much and they just feel it's slipping and it's becoming an issue for that. So here are the two bills that big brother is concerned about. The first is the open app markets act, which would allow users to sideload apps from other sources onto their phones. Instead of exclusively having access to apps that are on the Apple's app store or Google's Play Store. Does that make sense? Yes, okay. So sure, Big Brothers, public reasoning as to why this bill shouldn't pass is that it would leave users vulnerable to privacy and safety concerns because ABS wouldn't be vetted and Apple's might have to agree with that. All rightly might have to agree with that. I do worry about Rogue apps stealing my. I understand, he sure. And I don't know what they're gonna steal Apple. Senior director of government Affairs would agree with you. And in the following statement said this, After a tumultuous year, that witnessed multiple controversies regarding social media, with a blower allegations of a long ignored risks to children and ransomware attacks that hobbled, critical infrastructure. It would be ironic if Congress responds by making it much harder to protect the privacy and security of American's personal devices. So more words soup for you. But in response he's talking about Facebook though. I mean he's not talking about Apple. Yeah it's a nice Zinger. So Apple. So this is coming from Apple and apple allowed the Facebook app on their App Store. So I don't feel particularly confident in their ability to protect my privacy and security. Anyway, so that feels nullified to me. The second bill that Google and apple or whining about is the American innovation and choice online act under, which companies would be banned from prioritizing their products ahead of competitors on their platforms. So, for example, if you were looking up flights on Google and Google showed you Google flights first rather than any of their competitors in like, you know, a kayak or, you know, whatever online travel aggregator. Yeah, I care about. So, A coalition of 40 smaller tech companies, signed a letter of support for the choice online act stating that it would lift, some of the burden of trying to compete against Tech behemoths. Google Express concerned about this law. Dragging down American innovation and allowing foreign competitors to suppress them. But in my opinion, American companies are so uniquely capable of finding new innovative ways to exploit people in their data. That I would argue, it's only fair to give International exploiters a chance, you know, know, here's what. Can I just say something quickly? Yeah, I can only just do so. So Mark Zuckerberg always does the like, what about China? China is coming. So you can't like, don't do it. Don't make us do anything China. Why can't Apple and Google? Why can't there please just be? Can you take care of Facebook first? They're literally destroying everything. Like why don't you break them up first and then get come back to us and we'll talk. That should be there. That should be their excuse for everything. I mean I feel like though this entire response, boils down to The same thing we heard for the entirety of the 80s which is what about the children and China. That's literally all they said. What about the children in chapter Chinese children? What do we do about that? Oh my God. That they're evil children. Oh, he stifled them. All right. Here. Let's wrap up the show with a follow-up from a story reported on last month, better.com founder returns as CEO after firing 900 workers on Zoom one way this shall Garg who fired roughly 900 of his workers on Zoom last month and then took time off. Is returning to his position as head of the mortgage lending company. We call that Christmas vacation you dope. Christian Chapman, who was fired, last month, said he saw Mr. Garg's return to company leadership, as inevitable. Yeah, of course. He said, quote business is people product and processes. I think Bashaw should develop the Third Leg of business, which is the people see. That's your problem. Better.com, people don't have three legs animals, don't have three, like, what is better.com stool? He got that wrong every time inevitable. He sounds like a Marvel villain. He sounds like Thanos going. I am inevitable and he's just not. He's very evitable. I would argue. He's evitable, did he? Did he say? did he say he was taking a leave of absence or didn't he say he was Leaving. He was gone. They made it seem like he was really that he was gone. Yeah, I really thought, I thought the board of the directors basically. Said, you got to get out. Like I thought that Yeah, I'm impressed. Yeah I really well done Vishal? Yeah making way back. I will look into his whether that's a dictatorship and let you know him. Oh you know what? There's a soft Bank entities. So you know how loopy something gets with this? Okay. So in all fairness, thank God, better.com CEO to take time off. And there are a bunch of articles that say specifically take time off. He took time off from December 10th until January 10th, what a brilliant strategy and I guess a lot of other Executives have resigned because of this. So maybe add this to your dentist in. This is like the boring Dennis muilenburg version of the story the one that no one cares about. Good. I will await before we do. Wrap the show up Emma. Yes. Better or Worse, Microsoft buys, Activision Apple by his Activision final verdict. It's better. That Microsoft buys it, it's better that Microsoft buyers? There it is, that is Emma. Lurking, showing some deep love for Microsoft. I am Matt miscarriage. As Damian Ross. We are free float media if you like this. Come back tomorrow for more business, really long nuggets. This is like long droopy saggy nuggets, like, just go on for a long, just how I like them. Adjective problem. All like the way, we'll see you tomorrow, goodbye.