AOL and Google, Sitting in a Tree...

I'm a little confused over the news that Google has bought 5% of AOL's stock and will now be giving special treatment to AOL. 

I've always looked at AOL and Google as opposites.  AOL, with it's messy and unnecessary user interface meant to confuse people into thinking this is how the Internet actually is.  Google, on the other hand, having the most stripped down interfaces possible.  What real, long-term gain can Google get from this?  I was hoping AOL would file for bankruptcy in a few years.

Now all this could change.

There was talk of giving priority to AOL sites in Google searches, and even non-text adds in Google.  Both of these things would suck big time.

Don't abandon us Google!  We always knew you as the underdog, fighting against the corruptness and stupidity of Large Corporations.  Don't succumb to their ways!

Will the cool kids of the Internet be forced to switch to Yahoo? Or will Google, in it's infinite wisdom, rise from this stronger and more useful than before?

Only time will tell.

All I know is that AOL leaves a bad taste in a lot of peoples' mouths, and I wouldn't be spending one billion dollars to French-kiss them.