When Google (GOOG) and Yahoo! (YHOO) were in talks about the deal currently being scrutinized by the DOJ, there were reports that there was serious hesitation within Google that, no matter what the mechanics of the deal turned out to be, the potential negative publicity and possible appearance of monopolistic practices would far outweigh the potential benefit of derailing a Microsoft (MSFT) / Yahoo! deal.

The complaint recently filed by the advertiser’s collective and the DOJ’s purported hiring of the antitrust expert Gary Litvack may be only a short-term headache for Google, especially if Google decides to back out.   

Mithras Capital, owner of 1.7 million shares of Yahoo! (YHOO), is proposing the following deal to break the current impasse over the Yahoo!/Microsoft (MSFT) dilemma.

Mithras Capital is asking both Microsoft and activist shareholder Carl Icahn to seriously consider this proposal, for the benefit of both Yahoo! and Microsoft shareholders. By doing so, Yahoo! shareholders will be able to dictate the future direction of Yahoo!, avoiding the twin hazards of Scylla and Charybdis it now faces: either Microsoft failing to negotiate in good faith with a new Yahoo! BOD and management, or being stuck with the current BOD with which Microsoft refuses to negotiate further.

I have been sitting on the sidelines renting now since 2004 and patiently waiting, and waiting, and waiting for the right time to buy a home for my family. It has been a considerable sacrifice being a "renter" going on four years now, and my wife is getting pretty fed up (although she does logically understand the concept of leveraged losses on big ticket assets).