Last month we Launched Los Angeles Tech and in the announcement we provide the Hot List for the first half of January 2009. But, in running it now for the second half of January, the keyword that popped to the top was: Layoffs And this is definitely a sign of the times. When I drill down on that term, you can see why with posts like: Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals Lops A Third Of Company THQ Lays Off 100 Employees, Closes San This hot list is based on various social signals of what people are writing about, reading, bookmarking, searching, etc. You can go to

Calabasas-based THQ , which develops computer game titles, is closing its San Diego, UK, and Germany offices, and has laid off 100 employees, according to an email to employees from CEO Brian Farrell. Tags: jobs employment layoff content games wireles The move is part of a restructuring of the firm's THQ Wireless operations. According to the note, the firm is streamlining its THQ Wireless operations to only focus on high-end handheld devices. ...Tags:

San Diego- and Los Angeles-based online video site Veoh is reportedly in the midst of a "major restructuring," according to a report from VentureBeat . Quoting a "source close to the company" VentureBeat said that the layoffs would be "drastic." Tags: veoh layoff jobs video conten An email to Dmitry Shapiro, CEO of Veoh, this morning, asking for comments on the rumor was not returned. Veoh laid off 20 percent of its employees in November.

Layoffs at personal finance software maker Intuit are set to hit a number of the firm's Southern California locations. Mountain View-based Intuit, which said in June that it would be laying off about 4 percent of its staff, disclosed through California WARN notices recently that it is laying off employees in Calabasas, Woodland Hills, San Diego, and Westlake Village as part of an overall, company-wide reduction. According to the notices, 29 of the The firm had earlier said that the cuts came in its Small Business Division, but had not detailed the location of the cuts. The

San Diego-based Sequenom , a developer of genetic analysis equipment, announced late Thursday that the firm has cut approximately 30 employees as part of a cost cutting measure. According to the firm, the cuts were a result of a "continuing weak outlook in 2009" for sales of its equipment, particularly in the U.S. Sequenom said the moves should save it approximately $8M in costs in The firm said the cuts were made in its Genetic Analysis business. The firm is taking a charge of $850,000 in connection with severance expenses. ...Tags:

San Diego-based Verari Systems , a developer of blade server technology, has shut down, according to publication InsideHPC. Tags: verari systems blade server shutdown employment jobs layof According to InsideHPC, Verari Systems shut down due to lack of access to capital. Verari had raised over $59M in funding from such investors as Carlyle Group, Celerity Partners, Sierra Ventures, and Voyager Capital. READ MORE>> ...Tags:

San Diego-based Quidel , a developer of diagnostic tests for the healthcare industry, said Tuesday that it has cut approximately 10 percent of its work force, or 31 employees, in a corporate restructuring. Tags: quidel diagnostic lifescience healthcare layoff jobs employmen According to Quidel, it made the cuts in order to "gain operational efficiences and reduce costs." Quidel disclosed that the cuts included two senior-level positions, an elimination of its annual cash incentives, and efforts to reduce discretionary spending for the remainder of the year.

San Diego-based Metabasis Therapeutics, a biopharmaceuticals development firm, just announced this morning that it is cutting 38 employees, or approximately 43 percent of its employees as part of a corporate restructuring. Tags: jobs biopharmaceutical layoffs therapeutics pharmaceutical lifescience metabasi Metabasis said the move will focus its efforts on its treatments fo hyperlipedemia and treatments for type 2 diabetes, along with its glucagon antagonist program. The firm said it will take a charge of $1.4M

San Diego-based Entropic Communications , a manufacturer of semiconductors for the home entertainment market, said in a filing with the SEC Tuesday that the firm is cutting approximately 55 of its employees, or 18 percent of its workforce. Tags: employment jobs layoff diego entropic sandiego semiconducto According to the company, its workers were notified Monday and Tuesday that it would make the cuts. Entropic said the move was made to "better position" the company in current market and financial conditions, as well as to "more closely align operating expenses with

San Diego-based Cymer, a developer of light sources used for semiconductor manufacturing, said late Thursday that the firm has laid off 100 people, or 10 percent of its personnel. Tags: cymer jobs employment economy layoff semiconducto The firm said that the move was because business conditions in the firm's industry have "further deteriorated" and demand has dropped for its products. Cymer announced the move in conjunction with reduced earnings estimates for Q4 2008.