I just can't figure out that what the government sometimes considers a monopoly and other times not.

Google's checkbook shot a hole in the Microsoft bid. Google cut an ad deal with Yahoo that gave them sufficient revenue to boost stock prices and make the Microsoft offer insufficient to sway the board and key investors.

With the bid withdrawn, Yahoo stock has dropped dramatically. Seems perfect for a Microsoft hostile takeover. But not if Google and their fat checkbook says nothing doing, fellas. If Microsoft declares a proxy war, Google can buy Yahoo stock too. A lot of Yahoo stock. Most likely, Microsoft will look for other means to take over the Internet.

Truth be told, they stand just a slightly better chance than you and I to dominate the Internet anyway. They might be better advised to develop a decent version of Excel and cut some of the bloat out of their OSs that, like Topsy, just growed.