Rather than jump right into the Peanut Butter Manifesto comment-frenzy, I decided to let it simmer for a bit while doing some serious NFL channel-surfing. So what's the deal other than the shrouded motives of Yahoo senior V.P. Brad Garlinghouse, who thinks the company is spreading its resources too thin? If you go way up the strategic food chain, it may suggest the idea of trying to be all things to all people is fundamentally flawed. Yahoo, for example, has acquired everything from Flickr and del.ico.us to blo.gs and Musicmatch. The question is where there is a common theme behind Yahoo's M&A activity other than the need to buy cool technology/services and smart people? For that matter, does any of the major players' acquisition plan make complete sense? What many companies seem to be forgetting is their core purpose. In other words, what are they are offering and is that offering clear to potential and existing customers? What is Yahoo's meaning in life other than attracting as many people as possible and making money from them. If that's the strategic premise, the acquisition of Overture makes complete sense. As for anything else, that's open for debate. Perhaps the biggest concern from Garlinghouse's rant, P.R. exercise, power move, etc. is the M&A dreams may be coming to end an abrupt end for all those Internet start-ups who were banking on being acquired as a way to escape the reality a flawed or non-existent business plan, and/or a dwindling bank account. For an interesting look at acquisitions made by Yahoo, Google and Microsoft, check out this chart compiled by Shmula.com. Some other measured takes on the PBM come from Rob Hyndman, who believes it hints at senior management changes within Yahoo, and Mathew Ingram, who post titles - This peanut butter is del.ici.us - is among the most creative I've seen in a long time. Tags: , , ,