Around the Web: 6.20.2008: First day of summer and Yahoo as beach reading

-- There she goes: With the daily news of executive exodus, the Yahoo restructuring is like watching a landmark building implode in slow motion. LAT

-- Further taking out structural support: Microsoft may be going after Yahoo's engineers. San Jose Mercury News

-- Oh yes it is: If it were a drama, would the Microsoft-Google-Yahoo courtship and fallout be a Restoration comedy or pantomime? WSJ

-- Sticky wicket: It may have its troubles, but Yahoo is making cricket fans happy by adding video to its cricket site. NewTeeVee

-- Talk to the judge: Democrats and Republicans reached a compromise on a surveillance bill working its way in Congress. If passed, the new law will set guidelines on how and when the government can set up domestic wiretaps. LAT

-- Travel by Web: Today is the first day of summer. You might not be going anywhere but you can still surf the Web, fly through cyberspace and visit travel sites. A good new one is TravelMuse. VentureBeat

-- Losing its allure: California's reputation as tech powerhouse is sinking. So says the Milken Institute, which ranked the Golden State fourth, down from second place last year. Blame is dealt on the usual suspects -- the education system and the struggle to bring foreign workers here. LA Observed

-- AT&T pays big: The new iPhone 3G will cost you $199 but AT&T may be paying Apple $325, more than the usual carrier subsidy. Barron's

-- Bye-bye Wi-Fi: MetroFi is shutting down free wireless Internet networks in Riverside, the San Francisco Bay Area, Portland, Ore., and Illinois. AP via Yahoo News

-- Officer, I was just keeping my ear warm: Violating California's new law that prohibits driving while holding cellphones will put you behind $20 if you are caught after July 1. Chump change, you say? Fine. It's much worse if you hit someone while chatting. LAT

-- You Too can be special: YouTube sets up what it calls a "screening room," a site for watching short independent films. Web Scout

-- Michelle Quinn

Photo: The 1998 collapse of the landmark J.L. Hudson department store in Detroit. Credit: Jack Gruber / Associated Press

Comments

[Andrew Nystrom]

Michelle, great to see the Tech blog covering Travel. It's where much of the web 2.0+ / social media action is at the nanosecond. Jen Leo posted a brief on TravelMuse over at the LAT Travel blog a couple weeks ago, check it out:

http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/index.php/july-1-is-dwt-day-ne-2012/

"TravelMuse announced the beta launch of its Inspiration Finder, an online travel booking assistant you won’t want to miss. Just plug in your departing airport, how much you want to spend, how far you’re willing to go from home and what kind of activities you like and TravelMuse will return vacation options for you in a neatly organized menu...."

It takes Mobissimo's activity/interest-driven search one step further: http://www.mobissimo.com/search_activity.php

Let us know if you see any other reader/user-centric social media search engines, where the inspiration rather than tactical planning drives the experience.

In adventure,
~ Andrew, Sr. Editor/Producer
travel.latimes.com