Some circle the wagons against interlopers. Yahoo, instead, is swinging the ax. Planned layoffs have started and are hitting high in the ranks. One of the victims, we're told, is Todd Daum, the Burbank-based VP of marketing for Yahoo's search-ads business. A few years ago, Daum championed a contest with Richard Branson to give away Yahoo ads. Too bad for him: It turns out you can't even give Yahoo's search ads away. Any other VPs laid off? Send in their names.

Contact information for this author is not available.