This Internet is starting to tighten up a bit and I don't like it. Mostly, I'm a little irritated that moves are being made that seek to pigeonhole our options as content producers and seekers. Call me the consummate conspiracy theoretician if you want to, but I say right at the head of this movement is eBay Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY). The following scenario components may provide special interest to the fanciers of Microsoft Corp.(NASDAQ: MSFT). You may also be interested in these tidbits if you hold a chunk of Google Inc.(NASDAQ: GOOG). About two months ago the online auction proposition was dumped by Yahoo Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) They gave no real explanation as to why they were doing it. They just closed up shop. Now, they have entered into a joint venture regarding a Yahoo! search tool for eBay. Now that answers some questions, doesn't it.

Looking for the perfect gift for the husband, dad, or grown son on your list? My advice: Skip the clothing racks and go straight for the hardware aisles. Another tie, sweater or pair of pajamas reeks of domesticity, comfort and a kind of quiet fading into the sunset. Instead, set his pulse to racing with a gift that shows you think he's a real man, a take-charge kind of guy, king of his castle and all that. 

