Microsoft Goes "Hostile" In Search For Yahoo   Microsoft's take-
out play for Yahoo is a stunning move by the world's largest
software maker, even though rumors of a deal have been swirling
for the better part of a year.  The 62 percent premium Microsoft
is willing to pay for Yahoo, valuing the deal at a shade under
$45 billion, shows just how serious--and just how frustrated--
Microsoft has become with Yahoo . So for all you Yahoo
shareholders already at wit's end with your company and its
downward spiral, isn't it comforting to know that you're not
alone; that Mr. Softy shares your pain?  I've spoken to a number
of folks inside Microsoft this morning, and the most amazing
part of this story is how long it has been going on. I was told
that talks between the two had been going on, at a serious
level, for almost 18 months, and that any time a transaction got
close, Yahoo pulled the plug.  Over and over again. In fact, in
Microsoft's release this morning, the company details a snippet
of those exchanges, by incl