Johnny Cash sang an old song that appears most apropos as Microsoft launches a hostile take over attempt of Yahoo. The song reminisced about Martin, Abraham and John. Asking the question wondered about all deceased, 'where have my old friends gone?'. As the computerman lay sleepless on his bed after hearing the news he pondered the possibilities, being an old U.S. Army Intel Officer taps even played in his head.



We can all hope that like Mark Twain, Yahoo will be able to answer in the end that the reports and fears of my death have been greatly exaggerated. In the meantime, however, the inflated price in cash and stock that Microsoft has offered Yahoo stock holders will be hard to resist. It is another important consideration for family owned or closely held businesses before seriously thinking of making public offerings which make it far too easy to lose control. In fact one has to give up control to keep the regulators happy. Such is the essence of a publicly held stock. Really? How then do certain people like the Steve Ballmer, Bill Gates, and Steve Jobs

manage to keep such a tight grip and control of day to day operations?

Not that Microsoft don't know how to make money, they surely do. But, Yahoo has been an old friend. I don't anyone who considers Microsoft a friend. Yahoo has been reliable. Can Microsoft claim any modicum of reliability with a straight face?

Then there are those who started, sweated and built Yahoo watching their masterpiece being reduced to just another cheap (I never said inexpensive) painting hanging in Microsoft's gallery. The Tennessee Mountain Man's heart bleeds for them.

Yahoo has produced irreplaceable targeted traffic for many a business and website including your truly. MSN has produced little. We understand Microsoft's desire to compete more vigorously with Google, but they can't do what they now do well. Why bite off more? Why ruin the reputation of a great company like Yahoo by dragging it down to Microsoft's performance and reliability level?

Remote Helpdesk 1 has received several requests to join the Microsoft product testing and evaluation team which drew the ire of several staff members who detests Microsoft. The position comes with several benefits and the appointment is for one year... much like setting on any board. But, haven't we all tested Microsoft long enough? Is it not a love - hate relationship at best? Why add to it by using, testing, and recommending improvements to their beta products only to be required to purchase them at a later date if you want to continue to use them?

Where are the feds in this picture? In 1984 under the Ronald Reagan Presidential Administration they had no qualms about breaking up Ma Bell because, said the government regulators, it was a monopoly. In the early 21st century when the phone companies are once again forming what appears to be monopolies one has to ask where is the George W. Bush Administration. Microsoft has long been operating and ruling through fear, intimidation, and threat of legal action like a monopoly or gangster. Some of us

including the European Governments as ruled by their legal systems have believed it to be a monopoly verging on evil. Again, where is the protection of the people by the feds in this scenario?

Microsoft vs. Yahoo vs. Google vs. BlogLines vs. Newsgator vs. You: Make no mistake about it there is much more here than meets the eye... more than the battle of the titans. It determines whether or not there is competition in the search engine, internet advertising, and web indexing protocols all online business depends on and which determines in great measure whether or not an online entrepreneur lives or dies.

The final disposition of this matter will determine whether or not the internet user is forced into a box of ever decreasing parameters

controlled by the few, financed (like the federal government) with the publics money.

Do we want, can we afford one less independent major search engine? There are currently only three: MSN, Google and Yahoo. To let either one force out or even agreeably buy the other is not desirable.

The demise of Yahoo? Yahoo! We need it... we even like it. It is profitable as is for all of us. Maybe Congress will get involved if all else fails and say, 'no this creates another undesirable monopoly'. We hope it is not the end for Yahoo as we know it lest we all be singing where is my old friend...