Twelve or so things to like about LA Observed from the past week:

1. Times stays inside for the new opinion editor.
2. Those McCourts sure know how to mess up Opening Day — yes they do.
3. Ariel Hanrath-Clark died on PCH too.
4. Culver City's landmark train store sold.
5. David Davis prepped us for Saturday's Olympics decision — and now has the reasons Chicago won.
6. Times website unveils all kinds of future plans, including a celebrity justice reporter and a Phil Spector page.
7. Joe Francis' main squeeze at Channel 2.
8. Fires and wind, oh my.
9. Book burning false alarm in Santa Clarita.
10. The LAT's Anna Gorman goes under the knife and lives to write about it.
11. In appreciation of Kurt Vonnegut and celebrating the noir side of Los Angeles.
12. Happy 60th birthday to the Apple Pan.

Plus: The whole week of News & Chatter in one easy-to-browse place and the same for LA Biz Observed.