Hello and welcome back to the Free Line’s special Year End Extravaganza … On a Tuesday Christmas Eve! On today’s episode, we will be taking a look at two of the top five news stories to come out of 2009.

Story #5: Yahoo and Microsoft: Best Friends Forever

Why It’s Important: An agreement between two companies of this size is always important.
…But Number Five? Really?: Yes, really. In many ways, the events surrounding the Microsoft/Yahoo affair parallel the courtship of John Dorian (Zach Braff) and Elliot Reed (Sarah Chalke) on the long-running sitcom Scrubs. Much like the corporate titans in question, the relationship between the two young doctors started casually, but soon blossomed into something a bit more substantial. Thanks to things like petty bickering and a few mental blocks, the couple went their separate ways. By the time the lovers got back together — late last year for Yahoo and Microsoft, season three for JD and Elliot — the general population was primed and ready to see their young romances get their well-deserved “happily ever afters.” There was only one small problem: It didn’t happen. Due to a variety of “concerns” that made little sense to anyone, the seemingly happy tandems broke up in the most bitter and frustrating of ways. By the time they finally did say their “I do’s” (late July for our star crossed multinational corporations, season eight for our star crossed doctors), no one cared. Why? People can take only so many letdowns before they stop caring completely.
Moral of the Story: Strike while the iron is hot.

Story #4: Of Apple, AT&T, and Google Voice

Um … What’s Going On, Again?: Well, it all depends on who you ask…

Apple: It’s no big secret that we don’t like Google Voice. That said, we have no problem releasing the official Google app or allowing previously available apps like GV Mobile to stay in the Apps Store. It’s AT&T that’s causing all of the trouble, not us. They claim that Google Voice “cuts into their core business” or some such nonsense. I stopped paying attention after a few minutes. Anyway, here is what you should take out of this situation: AT&T bad, Apple good. Got it? Great.

AT&T: We here at AT&T have absolutely no problems with Google’s attempt to circumvent our core business by giving phone calls and text message plans away for free intriguing new service. Now Apple, on the other hand … [Pause, then whispering] You didn’t hear this from me, but last night, I heard Steve Jobs talking about how they were going to “get one over” on Google by keeping the voice app in limbo. Rumor has it they also plan on crashing Matt Cutts‘ birthday party and popping all of his balloons just to make him cry. Again, just sayin’.

Google [in a "cute little kid voice" reminiscent of Shirley Temple]: Oh geez … big bad Apple and big bad AT&T won’t let our little app into the App Store. We didn’t mean to hurt anyone, promise! I wish that a big strong adult like folks at the FCC could help us…

Tech Writers: …So Apple is a charter member of the “evil corporations” club? Wow. Didn’t see that one coming. They always seemed so cool and personable, what with their Apple Stores and over the top press conferences and undying love for the turtleneck shirt. Still, if Google says their evil, they must be evil. I mean, it’s not like they have anything to gain from all of this…

Why It’s Important: You’ll find that one out a bit later on in the countdown.

…And there you have it. Be sure to come back Monday for part two. Until then, we bid a fond adieu and a Merry Christmas.