January 16, 2009 3:56 PM PST
Ballmer and Bostock break bread
Well, it's official, Microsoft and Yahoo have come to an agreement.
On lunch.
As first noted by Valleywag, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Yahoo Chairman Roy Bostock had lunch together this week in New York. The New York Times has a lengthy piece up now as well, confirming the meeting, but offering no clue as to what happened beyond, presumably, caloric consumption.
In any case, it's the second high-level contact this week, given that incoming Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz told employees that she, too, had talked with Ballmer.
Microsoft has made it clear in every way imaginable that it would like to do a search deal, but it remains less clear whether Yahoo is willing to take the relationship beyond the "lunch date" stage.
During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried has changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley. These days, most of her attention is focused on Microsoft. E-mail Ina. 
I hope it was Yahoo! who paid the bill.