Ding, dong: Yang is gone. Now what?

Yahoo announced November 17 that Jerry Yang will be relinquishing his CEO crown, and that a search for his replacement is underway.

(Yang isn't totally gone. He will still be on the Yahoo board and will retain the "Chief Yahoo" position.)

Within minutes of the announcement, for the umpteenth time this year speculation began that Microsoft will now, finally buy Yahoo.

What do you think? Will Microsoft close the deal it first sought two years ago before December 31, 2008 (or shortly thereafter)?

[Poll=30]

Other write-in votes welcome in the Talkbacks.

Update:  November 19 is Microsoft's annual shareholders' meeting in Bellevue, Wash. I wonder if any attendees will ask about Microsoft's intentions regarding Yahoo ( not that they'll get an answer different from what Microsoft has been saying for the past 10 months)....