So right now there is the big news that Microsoft (MSFT) wants to buy out Yahoo (YHOO) for an unthinkable about of money. While this unholy alliance of power could tip the balance of power scales in favor of Microsoft over Google, what would become of services such as Flickr? I, along with various friends and family, rely on Flickr for off-site storage and sharing memories with each-other.

So if the merger happened, how bad could it be? Here are some possible outcomes:

• Nothing. Microsoft lets Yahoo run as they are. No end user impact.
• Login services are merged with Microsoft’s Live service and we all have to change our Flickr usernames (again).
• Yahoo is absorbed into Microsoft completely. All search, mail, and identity services become Microsoft. Yahoo Mail gets a Live Maul UI, IM services inter-operate with Live Messenger, Search functions merge into Live Search, and Flickr becomes Live Images (!).

Whatever the outcome is to this event that had all the local news channels running endless looping “reports” about Microsoft’s bid, Flickr better be left alone.