Rising gas prices, tanking stocks, and a sinking feeling among TV fans as the writers' strike edges closer to reality. Mark Lacter has that (and more) in LA Biz Observed.

Still ferklempt about the Echo Park paddle boats - and perhaps thinking some politicos could use a paddling: Jenny Burman in Chicken Corner.

Heal the Bay. Who? You. And the Pepperdine students who wrote this post about the beach clean-up on Saturday.

Radio Roderick. That's right, Kevin's on KCRW at 4:44 p.m. (And you thought there wasn't a good reason to leave work a tad early.)